Enrofloxacin-The Ruthless Killer of Eukaryotic Cells or the Last Hope in the Fight against Bacterial Infections?

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2022-03, Vol.23 (7), p.3648
• Main Authors: Grabowski, Łukasz, Gaffke, Lidia, Pierzynowska, Karolina, Cyske, Zuzanna, Choszcz, Marta, Węgrzyn, Grzegorz, Węgrzyn, Alicja
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; adverse effects; Animal health; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Antibacterial agents; antibiotic; Antibiotics; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Bacteria; Bacterial infections; Bacterial Infections - drug therapy; Bacterial Infections - veterinary; Bioavailability; Caretta caretta; Chelonia mydas; DNA topoisomerase IV; efficacy; Enrofloxacin; Enrofloxacin - pharmacology; Enrofloxacin - therapeutic use; Environmental effects; Enzymes; Eukaryotic Cells; Fluoroquinolones; Fluoroquinolones - pharmacology; Fluoroquinolones - therapeutic use; Gene expression; Gram-Negative Bacteria; Gram-Positive Bacteria; Metabolism; Metabolites; Metals; Oral administration; Pharmacokinetics; Polyvinyl alcohol; Review; safety; Streptococcus infections; toxicity; Veterinary medicine
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073648

Enrofloxacin is a compound that originates from a group of fluoroquinolones that is widely used in veterinary medicine as an antibacterial agent (this antibiotic is not approved for use as a drug in humans). It reveals strong antibiotic activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, mainly due to the inhibition of bacterial gyrase and topoisomerase IV enzymatic actions. The high efficacy of this molecule has been demonstrated in the treatment of various animals on farms and other locations. However, the use of enrofloxacin causes severe adverse effects, including skeletal, reproductive, immune, and digestive disorders. In this review article, we present in detail and discuss the advantageous and disadvantageous properties of enrofloxacin, showing the benefits and risks of the use of this compound in veterinary medicine. Animal health and the environmental effects of this stable antibiotic (with half-life as long as 3-9 years in various natural environments) are analyzed, as are the interesting properties of this molecule that are expressed when present in complexes with metals. Recommendations for further research on enrofloxacin are also proposed.