Efficacy of ciprofloxacin in animal models of infection.

The antibacterial efficacy of some of the newer quinolone antimicrobial agents in general, and ciprofloxacin in particular, in animal models of experimental septic arthritis, burn wound sepsis, empyema, chronic gastroenteritis, granuloma pouch infection, intraabdominal abscess, osteomyelitis, prostatis, sinusitis, urinary tract infection, and severe septicemia caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is reviewed. In addition, the efficacy of these newer quinolones has been studied in animal models of pneumonia, endocarditis, meningitis, skin and soft tissue infections, and a variety of other systemic infections. Although certain limitations are associated with animal models of infection, properly performed studies clearly have the potential to provide guidelines for evaluating the efficacy of antimicrobial agents in the treatment of some infections in humans.