Postantibiotic effect of ciprofloxacin compared with that of five other quinolones.

The antimicrobial activity (minimal inhibitory concentration, MIC, and killing kinetics) and postantibiotic effect (PAE) of different concentrations (MIC and 6 mg/1) of ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, pefloxacin, fleroxacin and lomefloxacin on pure cultures of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were compared in vitro. The MIC, killing kinetics and PAE were determined by standard methods. Ciprofloxacin displayed the lowest MICs, while the highest were those of norfloxacin against S. aureus and lomefloxacin against E. coli. The killing curves showed ciprofloxacin to be the most and norfloxacin the least active. The bactericidal power was dependent on the concentration. At MIC, the fluoroquinolones, with the exception of norfloxacin, induced PAEs of 1-2 h. The effect was, in all cases, greater against E. coli. When assayed at 6 mg/l the PAEs were increased to 2-5 h, the best results being obtained by ciprofloxacin followed by ofloxacin. Norfloxacin produced no PAE on S. aureus and scarcely reached 1.3 h against E. coli. There was a close relationship between bactericidal power and PAE.