Sometimes, persons allergic to penicillins will also be allergic to cephalosporins. Fluoroquinolones are the most recently introduced class of antibiotics. They are well absorbed orally, have a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity and are quite safe. These antibiotics interfere with bacterial enzymes, and are most frequently used for treatment of urinary tract infections. Fluoroquinolones should not be used by children or pregnant women as they may interfere with bone growth.
Antibiotics can safely save lives when prescribed appropriately.
However, indiscriminate use of these drugs can have serious consequences and can counteract their usefulness. In the approximately 50 years since antibiotics were first administered, a number of bacterial strains that cause disease have become resistant to the antibiotics that were once able to control or destroy them. Although literally thousands of antibiotic substances have been found in nature or have been produced chemically, relatively few have been proven safe and effective. Certain antibiotics can become toxic when outdated. Persons who know they are allergic to an antibiotic drug should tell the physician before being treated for any condition.