Pefloxacin is an antibiotic medication used to treat a variety of bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections, pneumonia, bronchitis, and skin infections. It is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, which works by stopping the growth of bacteria and killing them. Pefloxacin is usually taken orally and can also be administered intravenously. Common side effects of this medication include nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, dizziness, and headache.
Pefloxacin is an antibiotic belonging to the fluoroquinolone class [1, 2]. Here's a closer look at its properties:
Type: Broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic [1, 2].
Function: Kills a wide variety of bacteria by interfering with their DNA replication, preventing them from multiplying [2, 4]. This effectiveness applies to both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria [2, 4].
Common Uses (Historically): Treatment of various bacterial infections, including:
- Pneumonia [4].
- Typhoid fever [4].
- Urinary tract infections [4].
- Gonorrhea (a sexually transmitted disease) [4].
- Skin and soft tissue infections [4].
Crucially:
- Pefloxacin is not approved for use in the United States [1].
- There are generally safer and more effective antibiotics available to treat the infections it was historically used for [4].