Comparative chemotherapeutic activity of new fluorinated 4-quinolones and standard agents against a variety of bacteria in a mouse infection model.

The new fluorinated 4-quinolones appear to represent orally effective alternatives to parenteral and oral agents currently in use. A number of new fluorinated 4-quinolones were compared in acute systemic mouse-infection models with various Gram-positive cocci (streptococci and staphylococci), Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Also included were standard oral and parenteral antimicrobial agents. CI-934 was the most potent quinolone in infections induced by Streptococcus pyogenes and Str. pneumoniae. CI-934, ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin and pefloxacin were as effective as or superior to standard oral agents currently utilized in infections induced by the Enterobacteriaceae and staphylococci. They were active against antibiotic-susceptible strains and strains resistant to beta-lactams and gentamicin. Most were also quite potent against systemic P. aeruginosa mouse infections. These studies indicate good chemotherapeutic potential for the new generation fluorinated 4-quinolones in infections induced by the staphylococci, streptococci, Enterobacteriaceae and P. aeruginosa, including strains resistant to standard antimicrobial agents.