Norfloxacin, the first of a new class of fluoroquinolone antimicrobials, revisited.

Norfloxacin is the first in a series of new 4-quinolones that have been introduced into medical practice for the treatment of bacterial infections. This totally synthetic compound is a broad spectrum, bactericidal agent that is much more potent than the earlier analogs, i.e. nalixidic acid, pipemidic acid, cinoxacin, rosoxacin, and flumequine, is less likely to select for resistant mutants. While the compound has been used most widely in the treatment of urinary tract infections including pyelonephritis and prostatitis, utility has also been demonstrated in gastrointestinal and ophthalmological infections, gonorrhea, typhoid fever, the typhoid carrier state, as well as in the prophylaxis of traveler's diarrhea, biliary tract infections prior to surgery, and gram-negative bacillary infections in profoundly neutropenic patients.