Quinolone
Quinolone
Quinolone (/kwiːˈnɒləʊn/), also known as quinolones, is a type of antibacterial drug used in the treatment of various bacterial infections.
Etymology
The term "quinolone" is derived from the chemical name of its basic structure, quinoline, which in turn is derived from the Latin word "quinus" meaning "five each" and the suffix "-ol" indicating the presence of a hydroxyl group.
Usage
Quinolones are primarily used to treat severe or life-threatening bacterial infections, or bacterial infections that have failed to respond to other categories of antibiotics. They work by inhibiting the bacterial enzymes DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, which are required for bacterial DNA replication, transcription, repair, and recombination.
Related Terms
- Fluoroquinolones: A subcategory of quinolones, which have a fluorine atom attached to the central ring system, typically at the 6-position or C-7 position. Examples include ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and moxifloxacin.
- Nalidixic acid: The first of the quinolone antibiotics, discovered in the 1960s.
- DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV: The bacterial enzymes inhibited by quinolones.
- Antibacterial resistance: A phenomenon in which bacteria evolve to resist the effects of antibiotics, including quinolones.
Side Effects
Like all antibiotics, quinolones can cause side effects. These may include nausea, diarrhea, insomnia, dizziness, and photosensitivity. In rare cases, they may cause severe side effects like tendonitis and nerve damage.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Quinolone
- Wikipedia's article - Quinolone
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