title: The bactericidal activity of sparfloxacin.
abstract: Sparfloxacin was found to display a biphasic response against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis in nutrient broth. Its optimum bactericidal concentration was found to be identical for all three species which contrasts with other clinically available fluoroquinolones that are more active against E. coli than against staphylococci. Bacterial protein and RNA synthesis as well as cell division were not found to be essential for all the lethality of sparfloxacin, which hence displays bactericidal mechanism B. However, sparfloxacin was unable to kill bacteria in absence of oxygen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Edinburgh Medical School, UK.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lewin
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Morrissey
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects*; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D010100:Oxygen / Q000494:pharmacology; D015363:Quinolones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D015363:Quinolones; C061363:sparfloxacin; D010100:Oxygen