[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Pharmacology](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/) › [Fluoroquinolones](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/fluoroquinolones/) › Delafloxacin # Delafloxacin ## Fluoroquinolones? Fluoroquinolones Newer oral and intravenous fluoroquinolone with strong activity against staphylococci; used for skin infections and community-acquired pneumonia. Updated Nov 12, 2026 Also called: delafloxacin meglumine ## Quick facts **Group** [Fluoroquinolones](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/fluoroquinolones/) **Target** Bacterial topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase **Used for** Acute bacterial skin **Key effects** Nausea · Headache **Monitor** Tendon pain or swelling · Stools **ATC** J01MA23 No doses: the clinician sets them by the current guideline. On this page - The basics Mechanism of action - Indications - Adverse effects - Pharmacokinetics - Memory aid - Safety Contraindications - Key interactions - What is monitored - Administration and safety - Pregnancy and breastfeeding - Nursing care - Study Test yourself - Connections Connections ## Mechanism of action ✂**Bacterial topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase**Delafloxacin ⓘ The figure shows delafloxacin itself trapping the DNA cut by topoisomerase IV of Streptococcus pneumoniae. **Target in 3D:** Bacterial topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase. PDB structure 8C41 (RCSB PDB, public domain). [View the structure at RCSB PDB](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/8C41) · Drag to rotate · pinch to zoom Like the other fluoroquinolones, delafloxacin binds the complex of DNA with topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase and freezes it after the enzyme has cut the DNA. The double-strand breaks that build up kill the bacterium. Compared with older members it is much more potent against Staphylococcus aureus, while its activity against gram-negative bacteria, Pseudomonas included, is about that of levofloxacin. - Binds topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase bound to DNA - Locks the enzyme after it has cut both DNA strands - DNA breaks accumulate and replication stops - The bacterium dies (bactericidal) ## Indications - Acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infections, including those by staphylococci [Cellulitis of the leg →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/cellulitis-of-the-leg/) - Community-acquired bacterial pneumonia [Community-acquired pneumonia →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/community-acquired-pneumonia/) ## Adverse effects ### Common - Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea - Headache ### Serious (rare, important) - Tendinitis and tendon rupture, during treatment or months later, above all in people over 60 - Peripheral neuropathy that may be permanent - Central nervous system effects: seizures, mood change, hallucinations - Worse muscle weakness in myasthenia gravis - Low blood sugar, above all in people with diabetes - Clostridioides difficile diarrhoea, even weeks after treatment - Aortic aneurysm or dissection (sudden chest, abdominal or back pain) ## Contraindications - Allergy to delafloxacin or another fluoroquinolone ## Key interactions **Antacids and supplements with aluminium, magnesium, iron or zinc; sucralfate** They bind the drug in the gut and lower its absorption; the oral dose is separated from them by several hours. **Antidiabetic medicines (insulin, sulfonylureas)** Blood sugar can fall or rise more than expected; glucose is checked more often. **Corticosteroids** They add to the risk of tendon rupture, as with every fluoroquinolone. ## What is monitored - Tendon pain or swelling, numbness or tingling, and changes in mood or thinking - Blood glucose in people with diabetes - Stools: watery or bloody diarrhoea ## Administration and safety - Oral tablets or an intravenous infusion; the IV powder is reconstituted and diluted following the product instructions - Oral doses are kept apart from antacids, iron, zinc, magnesium and sucralfate - Name looks like other «-floxacin» drugs: the label is checked before giving it ## Pregnancy and breastfeeding Human data are lacking; it is used in pregnancy only when no better-studied alternative fits. ## Nursing care - Ask about tendon problems, myasthenia gravis, aortic aneurysm, diabetes and allergy to quinolones - Teach to stop and report tendon pain, tingling, chest or back pain or confusion - Check blood sugar more often in people with diabetes - Watch for diarrhoea during treatment and up to two months later ## Pharmacokinetics **Absorption** Given by mouth or by intravenous infusion. **Elimination** Mixed: part by the kidneys and part by other routes; kidney function is taken into account. ## Memory aid «DELta for staph»: DELafloxacin is the fluoroquinolone with the strongest punch against Staphylococcus aureus, but it carries the same boxed warnings (tendons, nerves, brain, myasthenia) as the rest of the family. ## Test yourself Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it. ## Which two bacterial enzymes does delafloxacin block? Topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase, which it traps after they have cut the DNA. ## What sets delafloxacin apart from levofloxacin in its spectrum? It is far more potent against Staphylococcus aureus, while its gram-negative activity is similar. ## Which serious effects appear in the boxed warning of all fluoroquinolones, delafloxacin included? Tendinitis and tendon rupture, peripheral neuropathy, central nervous system effects and worsening of myasthenia gravis. ## Why are oral delafloxacin doses separated from antacids and iron? Aluminium, magnesium, iron and zinc bind the drug in the gut and reduce its absorption. [Add to my cards (4)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/pharmacology/delafloxacin/) [More Pharmacology questions →](https://durgical.com/en/practice/?f=pharmacology) ## Connections ## Related drugs 3 - [Levofloxacin](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/levofloxacin/) - [Moxifloxacin](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/moxifloxacin/) - [Ciprofloxacin](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/ciprofloxacin/) ## Related conditions 2 - [Cellulitis of the leg](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/cellulitis-of-the-leg/) - [Community-acquired pneumonia](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/community-acquired-pneumonia/) [← Back to the class: Fluoroquinolones](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/fluoroquinolones/) Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given. Sources: [Delafloxacin: MedlinePlus Drug Information](https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a617046.html) (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); [ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index](https://atcddd.fhi.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=J01MA23) (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026); [High resolution structure of the Streptococcus pneumoniae topoisomerase IV-DNA complex with the novel fluoroquinolone Delafloxacin](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/8C41) (RCSB Protein Data Bank, 2026); [DailyMed - LEVOFLOXACIN tablet, film coated](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=d98cf024-51fa-45a1-b247-da55aba88ca0) (DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026). ## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/delafloxacin/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/delafloxacin/