title: Comparative in vitro activity of norfloxacin against urinary tract pathogens.
abstract: The in vitro activity of norfloxacin (MK366) against 477 aerobic gram-negative and gram-positive clinical isolates was compared to that of nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin, ampicillin, cephalexin, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole, and the combination trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Norfloxacin was more active than the other agents against all gram-negative organisms tested. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were less than or equal to 0.125-32 mg/l with 90% inhibited (MIC90) by 4 mg/l; MICs of the Enterobacteriaceae including Serratia marcescens were less than or equal to 0.125-8 mg/l with an MIC90 of less than or equal to 4 mg/l. There was also excellent activity against the gram-positive cocci including Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and the enterococci, with MICs less than or equal to 0.125-4 mg/l and an MIC90 less than or equal to 4 mg/l. Only 8 of 477 organisms were norfloxacin-resistant (MIC greater than or equal to 16 mg/l): 3 of 100 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 3 of 10 Pseudomonas maltophilia and 2 of 15 Streptococcus bovis strains. In contrast, 97% of the gram-positive cocci and 49% of the gram-negative bacilli were nalidixic acid-resistant (MIC greater than or equal to 32 mg/l). Norfloxacin shows excellent activity against a wide range of bacteria and merits further study as a urinary antibacterial agent.
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006088:Gram-Negative Aerobic Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006089:Gram-Negative Anaerobic Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D009268:Nalidixic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity; D009643:Norfloxacin; D013045:Species Specificity; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009268:Nalidixic Acid; D009643:Norfloxacin