Florfenicol

Description

Florfenicol is a broad-spectrum fluorinated antibiotic and a derivative of thiamphenicol . It is active against human clinical isolates of enteric bacteria, including E. coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, P. mirabilis, and Salmonella (MIC₅₀s = 6.3-12.5 μg/ml). Florfenicol is also active against clinical isolates of various bovine and porcine respiratory tract pathogens, including P. multocida, A. pleuropneumoniae, and B. bronchiseptica (MIC₅₀s = 0.25-4 μg/ml). It inhibits peptidyl transferase activity in 70S ribosomes isolated from E. coli when used at a concentration of 1 mM. Formulations containing florfenicol have been used in the treatment of infectious respiratory disease in cattle.

Chemical properties

White or off-white crystalline powder, odorless. Easily soluble in dimethylformamide, soluble in methanol, slightly soluble in glacial acetic acid, very slightly soluble in water or chloroform.

The Uses of Florfenicol

Florfenicol is a fluorinated derivative of thiamphenicol. It is a protein synthesis inhibitor that inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to ribosome 50S and 70S subunits. Florfenicol is used as an antibacterial.

What are the applications of Application

Florfenicol is a broad-spectrum antibacterial preparation

Definition

ChEBI: Florfenicol is a carboxamide that is the N-dichloroacetyl derivative of (1R,2S)-2-amino-3-fluoro-1-[4-(methanesulfonyl)phenyl]propan-1-ol. A synthetic veterinary antibiotic that is used for treatment of bovine respiratory disease and foot rot; also used in aquaculture. It has a role as an antimicrobial agent. It is a sulfone, a secondary alcohol, an organofluorine compound, an organochlorine compound and a secondary carboxamide. It is functionally related to a dichloroacetic acid.

Preparation

Florfenicol is synthesised from thiamphenicol by replacing the 3-hydroxy group with fluorine, first synthesised at Schering in 1980. By replacing the hydroxy group, it was rationalised that chloramphenicol resistance via chloramphenicol acetyltransferase could be eliminated. Florfenicol is a broad spectrum antibiotic with good activity against Gram negative and anaerobic bacteria. It acts by binding to the 23S sub-unit of the 50S ribosome, inhibiting protein synthesis. Florfenicol has been extensively studied with over 400 literature citations.

Veterinary Drugs and Treatments

The drug is approved for use in cattle only (in the USA) for the treatment of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) associated with Pasteurella haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, and Haemophilus somnus.
Because florfenicol has activity against a wide range of microorganisms (e.g., Mycoplasma), it may be useful for treating other infections in cattle (or other species) as well, but specific data is limited.