Ofloxacin: a review

Ofloxacin is a new fluorinated quinolone antibiotic with a broad spectrum of activity against a variety of gram-positive and -negative bacteria including Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, ofloxacin has significant activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis and this may give rise to new indications for the class of quinolone antibiotics. Clinical trials to date have demonstrated the efficacy of ofloxacin in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, and sexually transmitted diseases. Adverse effects to ofloxacin are usually mild and include gastrointestinal, central nervous system, and hypersensitivity reactions. Significant drug interactions with ofloxacin have not been reported.