Pharmaceutical Applications
A group 4 quinolone formulated for oral or intravenous use. In-vitro activity is similar to or better than that of moxifloxacin. The antibacterial spectrum covers Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including anaerobes. It has a chlorine atom at the C-8 position, and therefore has potential for phototoxicity. Early interest in this compound has not been maintained, but it is available in Japan.
Side effects
As a class, the major adverse events for fluoroquinolones are cardiac arrhythmia (due to QT interval 622 Shridhar Hegde and Michelle Schmidt prolongation), major phototoxicity, CNS disturbances (seizures, dizziness, and headaches), and tendonitis. The GI side effects, common to most antimicrobials, include Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) and alterations in glucose homeostasis. From the clinical safety profile of sitafloxacin (1,059 patients receiving either 50 mg b.i.d. or 100 mg b.i.d.), about a third of patients experienced an adverse event with the most common being diarrhea, liver enzyme elevations, and headaches; however, the risk of QT prolongation, hypoglycemia, and hepatotoxicity were all considered to be low. Phototoxicity appears to be the limiting toxicity, particularly in non-Asian patients.
