Summary

Article Abstract:

The quinolone antibiotics prevent the growth of bacteria by interfering with the bacterial enzyme DNA gyrase, which is involved in the appropriate arrangement, or positioning, of the DNA molecule in the bacteria. These antibiotics are specifically active against bacterial DNA and do not affect mammalian DNA. The quinolones ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin have been approved for use in the United States. Because these antibiotics are effective against a wide spectrum of microorganisms, they may be suitable for treating gynecologic infections. However, quinolones should not be used in pregnant or breast-feeding women, because they may cause joint disease in children. Ofloxacin can be used effectively as a single agent to treat genital tract infections caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and/or Chlamydia trachomatis. This fluoroquinolone is active against beta-lactamase-producing and tetracycline-resistant bacterial strains. However, ofloxacin should be combined with an anti-anaerobic agent when treating female genital tract infections that also involve anaerobic bacteria. Ofloxacin combined with clindamycin or metronidazole may be used to treat soft tissue infections that develop after childbirth, such as endometritis (inflammation of the inner lining of the uterus), and pelvic cellulitis (inflammation of loose connective tissue around the uterus). Because the quinolones are active against gram-negative facultative bacteria, they can be used to treat urinary tract infections. The use of a single agent to treat infections due to N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis is less costly, and quinolones may replace combined treatment with ceftriaxone and doxycycline. The quinolones cause few side effects, and most adverse effects involve the gastrointestinal tract. The physician should be aware that quinolones differ in their activity against all bacteria, and quinolone therapy should be monitored periodically to assess antibiotic effectiveness and the resolution of symptoms. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Antibiotics, Drug therapy, Pathogenic microorganisms, Genitourinary organs, Urogenital system, Quinolones

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Chlamydia trachomatis: female pelvic infection

Article Abstract:

Chlamydia trachomatis is a very common sexually-transmitted bacteria that can cause inflammation of the urethra, cervix, fallopian tubes (the tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus), endometrium (the inner lining of the uterus), and epididymis (the site of sperm maturation in the testis). Infection with C. trachomatis has been linked with infertility, ectopic pregnancy (development of the fetus outside of the uterus), and premature labor. Approximately 20 to 40 percent of all sexually active women have been exposed to C. trachomatis, and rates of infection ranging from 3 to 25 percent have been reported for pregnant women. Risk factors associated with C. trachomatis infection include having multiple sex partners, use of oral contraceptive pills, use of IUDs (intrauterine devices), prior history of sexually transmitted disease, blood spotting after intercourse, blood spotting between menstrual periods, and abdominal pain. This type of infection can be transmitted from mother to infant during vaginal delivery, and infants born to infected mothers have a 60 to 70 percent risk of infection. Twenty-five to 50 percent of these infants will develop eye infections, and 10 to 20 percent will develop pneumonia. C. trachomatis infections can be treated in 7 to 10 days using tetracycline, doxycycline, erythromycin, or clindamycin. Fluoroquinolone antibiotics and tetracycline should not be used to treat infections in pregnant women. The use of condoms during sexual intercourse can be effective in preventing infection with C. trachomatis. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Complications and side effects, Risk factors, Disease transmission, Chlamydia trachomatis, Reproductive organs, Genitalia

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