Abstract
The fluoroquinolones are synthetic compounds with greater potency and a broader antimicrobial activity than their quinolone precursor, nalidixic acid, which is used only as urinary antiseptic. Susceptibility tests of 345 strains, belonging to 9 species of Gram negative uropathogens against quinolones, were carried out by disc diffusion method. This comprised Escherichia coli (270 strains), Klebsiella pneumoniae (51), K. ozaenae (03), Proteus mirabilis (05), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10), Salmonella typhi (01), S paratyphi A (02), S. paratyphi B (01) and Serratia marcescens (02). The highest rate of resistance was recorded against ciprofloxacin
and nalidixic acid i.e. each 6.1% (21/345) followed by ofloxacin (4.3%, 15/345) and norfloxacin (0.3%, 1/345). Continued surveillance is required to prevent the future spread of these resistancet strains.
