Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics:Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics

The small volume Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics is an updated, handy, and concise summary of the state of the art in the field of fluoroquinolones—one of the most frequently used classes of antibacterial agents in adults. The fluoroquinolones have experienced turbulent times in recent years; some agents have been withdrawn just before marketing or a short time after launch because of unpredictable safety issues that have not been seen with other classes of antimicrobials. A chapter on fluoroquinolone safety discusses this problem. The other side of the coin is that these compounds, particularly those that were removed from the shelf, are the most active agents and have the broadest spectrum of activity ever developed; therefore, the unfortunate fate of some of the fluoroquinolones is particularly painful both for clinicians and for the industry. The book also discusses this subject, although it is less relevant today. Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics supplies the reader with condensed information, even while addressing all of these developments. The volume is rich in clear and informative tables, particularly in its preclinical chapters. The preclinical section is precise, updated, and almost complete; it contains a wealth of information in <100 pages and is presented in clear and concise language. The clinical section is also well written and fairly informative. However, some tables containing the results of “milestone” comparative studies, such as those of the use of levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and gatifloxacin to treat community-acquired pneumonia and of ciprofloxacin to treat intra-abdominal infections, would have been desirable. In addition, tables listing the guidelines for fluoroquinolone use of international professional organizations, such as the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Canadian Infectious Diseases Society, and the American Thoracic Society, that recommend fluoroquinolones as therapeutic choices for indications such as community-acquired pneumonia and urinary tract infection, would have been of assistance to the practicing non—infectious diseases clinician. Moreover, there is some duplication of data in various chapters. For example, otitis media, otitis externa, and sinusitis are discussed twice in 2 different chapters. Some of the chapters address research priorities for the next 5 years; these discussions are interesting and point to the lack of necessary data and to the need for clinical trials. The reference lists seem adequate, and in most chapters the sources are well chosen. The index is somewhat incomplete, although the data appear in the corresponding chapters. In summary, this is a handy and concise quick-reference book for the practicing clinician that is timely and therefore a welcome addition to the bookshelf.