Norfloxacin. A review of its antibacterial activity, pharmacokinetic properties and therapeutic use.
Norfloxacin is one of the new 4-quinolone antibacterial agents. A fluorinated piperazinyl-substituted congener of nalidixic acid, it demonstrates a much wider in vitro antibacterial spectrum and greater potency than the parent compound. Its antibacterial activity against most Gram-negative pathogens is enhanced in comparison to nalidixic acid, but is similar to that of some of the other new 4-quinolones like enoxacin, and slightly less than that of ciprofloxacin. Unlike nalidixic acid, norfloxacin is also active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and some Gram-positive organisms. In acute or uncomplicated urinary tract infections, norfloxacin has repeatedly been shown to be as effective as co-trimoxazole. Single studies have demonstrated a significantly better bacteriological cure rate with norfloxacin than with pipemidic acid, and similar cure rates with norfloxacin and both a nalidixic acid/sodium citrate mixture and amoxycillin. Similar results were found in a few studies comparing norfloxacin to pipemidic acid or amoxycillin in patients with chronic and/or complicated urinary tract infections. Norfloxacin is as effective as spectinomycin in gonorrhoea due to penicillin-resistant N. gonorrhoeae, and cures bacterial gastroenteritis caused by several gastrointestinal pathogens. Norfloxacin appears to be well tolerated and may have a low propensity to select for bacterial resistance during clinical use, although the latter needs further confirmation.
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000187:drug effects; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000187:drug effects; D003470:Culture Media; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D009643:Norfloxacin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014526:Urethritis / Q000188:drug therapy; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D009643:Norfloxacin