Abstract
Gatifloxacin is an 8-methoxy-fluoroquinolone and is marketed by Bristol Myers Squibb as Tequin, having licensed the medication from the Kyorin Pharmaceutical Company in Japan. It is known by a variety of proprietary names pursuant to the formulation and the country in which it is marketed. Three formulations are available, oral, ophthalmic, and intravenous. Like other members of this class, gatifloxacin has activity against many Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and many intracellular respiratory pathogens. In particular it has activity against penicillin-susceptible and -resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), and some anaerobes. Unlike ciprofloxacin it lacks significant activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.