Possible role for the new fluoroquinolones (levofloxacin, grepafloxacin, trovafloxacin, clinafloxacin, sparfloxacin, and DU-6859a) in the treatment of anaerobic infections: review of current information on efficacy and safety.

The currently available fluoroquinolones have modest activity against anaerobes. Newer fluoroquinolones with increased in vitro activity against anaerobes are under development and include levofloxacin, clinafloxacin, sparfloxacin, trovafloxacin, grepafloxacin, and DU-6859a. Side effects of the quinolones have varied according to the specific compounds and include central nervous system stimulation, gastrointestinal disturbances, vasculitis, and photosensitization. Monitoring for toxicity is incompletely reliable in identifying all potential serious side effects such as the "temafloxacin syndrome." Other fluoroquinolones may produce this syndrome rarely or not at all. In this paper, I review limited published studies on the use of these agents for skin and skin-structure infections and gynecologic infections. Studies in progress are noted, and when available, in vitro data on the efficacy of these agents against bacterial isolates from specific sources are reviewed and evaluated in terms of potential clinical utility.