Pefloxacin inhibits the bacterial enzymes DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, which are needed for the transcription and replication of bacterial DNA. DNA gyrase is thought to be the primary quinolone target for gram-negative bacteria. Topoisomerase IV is thought to be the primary target in gram-positive organisms. The inhibition of the topoisomerases results in strand breakage of the bacterial chromosome, supercoiling, and resealing. Therefore, DNA replication and transcription is inhibited . Pefloxacin is an analog of norfloxacin.
