moxifloxacin
Meaning of moxifloxacin: Moxifloxacin is a broad spectrum antibiotic from the fluoroquinolone class, used to treat various bacterial infections.
Definition of moxifloxacin
Moxifloxacin is an antibiotic belonging to the fluoroquinolone class, used to treat a range of bacterial infections, including certain infections of the respiratory tract, skin, and abdomen. It works by interfering with enzymes that bacteria need to copy and repair their own DNA, which prevents the bacteria from multiplying and allows the infection to be controlled.
Moxifloxacin is generally given by mouth or by intravenous infusion, and its broad activity against many types of bacteria makes it an option for infections affecting several different body systems, though its use is generally reserved for situations where other antibiotics are not suitable.
Like other fluoroquinolones, moxifloxacin carries recognized risks not shared by all antibiotic classes, including possible effects on tendons, nerves, and heart rhythm, a risk profile that is weighed against its broad spectrum benefit when this antibiotic is being considered for a particular infection.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
Moxifloxacin was prescribed to treat the patient's community acquired pneumonia.
Good to know
Moxifloxacin shares the fluoroquinolone class's recognized risk of tendon and nerve related side effects, along with a distinct effect on heart rhythm that is monitored more closely with this particular drug than with some other fluoroquinolones.