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Book Review
Quinolone Antimicrobial Agents,
3rd Edition
David C. Hooper and Ethan Rubinstein
American Society of Microbiology Press, Washington, DC 20036, USA, ISBN:
1-55581-231-7, Pages: 485, Price: US$125.95
Suggested citation
for this article:
Anderson GJ. Quinolone antimicrobial agents [book review]. Emerg Infect
Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2004 Jun [date cited]. Available from:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol10no6/03-0025.htm
The quinolone class is one of the more important classes of antimicrobial
agents discovered in recent years and one of the most widely used classes
of antimicrobial drugs in clinical medicine. Their broad spectrum of activity
and pharmacokinetic properties make the quinolone agents ideal for treating
a variety of infections. Their clinical importance is further demonstrated
by their activity against a wide range of diseases of public health importance
such as anthrax, tuberculosis, bacterial pneumonia, and sexually transmitted
diseases.
Recent research has provided new data on the agent's structure-function
relationships, modes of action, resistance, pharmacokinetics, and drug
interactions. The third edition of Quinolone Antimicrobial Agents nicely
addresses these advances. The book is organized into four sections, each
containing chapters written by leading experts.
Mechanisms and Spectrum of Activity and Resistance, the first major section,
explores the basic biology of the quinolone class. The interrelationships
between structure, antimicrobial activity, and side effects associated
with various side chain positions of the quinolones are discussed here.
Pertinent information on the bacterial topoisomerases and DNA gyrases,
quinolone binding, DNA/RNA synthesis inhibition, cell death in the absence
of protein synthesis, specific mutations within the quinolone resistance–determining
region, and mutations that lead to altered access to target enzymes (efflux
systems) is also highlighted.
In the next section, Pharmacology, the intricate field of quinolone pharmacokinetics
(PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) is evaluated. Information regarding absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion in a range of patient types is
provided, followed by data gathered from pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic
studies in a variety of models. This section also provides a review of
the role of pharmacologic evaluation in optimizing therapy. The last two
sections of the book, Clinical Applications and Adverse and Other Effects,
will be of particular interest to clinicians. The chapters in this section
include a comprehensive reference on general considerations, antimicrobial
aspects, treatment models, clinical and comparative studies, and suggested
treatment regimens for a host of infections. The chapter on adverse effects
has been greatly expanded from the second edition because a substantial
body of new information has since been gathered. Topics covered here include
allergic reactions, effects on connective tissue structures and pregnancy,
phototoxicity, and central nervous system and immune system toxicity.
The organization and content of this text make it a superlative reference.
The discussions on treatments and adverse effects contain some of the
most current data available. The field of antimicrobial resistance, however,
is one of the most rapidly evolving areas with constant discoveries of
new cases and data. Users should understand that while this text serves
as a valuable reference, other sources should be consulted to ensure that
the most comprehensive data are obtained. The references provided throughout,
however, give the reader starting points to other literature.
Gregory J. Anderson*
*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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