PHARMACOKINETICS, PHARMACODYNAMICS, AND TOLERABILITY PROFILE OF CLINAFLOXACIN

Clinafloxacin is a broad-spectrum and highly potent member of the fluo roquinolone class of antibiotics, with enhanced activity against diffi cult-to-treat Gram-negative, Gram-positive, and anaerobic pathogens. I t appears that the most important factor in terms of structure-activit y is the chloride atom at the C-g position. Clinafloxacin has a tolera bility profile that is similar to that of other quinolones. Structure- tolerability issues related to the C-8 halogen, such as phototoxicity, should not be a major problem for an antimicrobial agent used for nos ocomial infections in hospitalised patients. Similar class-related tol erability issues of the quinolone class of antimicrobial agents, such as tendinitis, should not be an important issue in hospitalised patien ts. The activity of clinafloxacin against multidrug-resistant nosocomi al pathogens and anaerobes suggests that this agent would be well suit ed for empirical therapy of nosocomial infections in seriously ill pat ients. Initial in vivo animal studies have confirmed that the enhanced in vitro activity of clinafloxacin against difficult-to-treat nosocom ial pathogens results in increased in vivo efficacy. The success in an imal models has led to the current series of ongoing clinical trials. Published data from these studies to date have confirmed the efficacy of clinafloxacin against difficult-to-treat nosocomial pathogens.