Fluoroquinolone antibiotics

The fluoroquinolones are a family of synthetic broad-spectrum antibiotics, which eradicate bacteria by interfering with DNA replication. However, the fluoroquinolones are relatively ineffective against intracellular pathogens.

Fluoroquinolones can be used as an acute-phase antibiotic for patients on the Marshall ProtocolA curative medical treatment for chronic inflammatory disease. Based on the Marshall Pathogenesis. because they produce little or no immunopathologyA temporary increase in disease symptoms experienced by Marshall Protocol patients that results from the release of cytokines and endotoxins as disease-causing bacteria are killed..

• ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
• levofloxacin (Levaquin/Quixin)
• gatifloxacin (Tequin)
• moxifloxacin (Avelox)
• ofloxacin (Ocuflox/Floxin/Floxacin)
• norfloxacin (Noroxin)

All the fluoroquinolones are thought to act in a similar way.

The following issues should be addressed when a physician is deciding whether to use fluoroquinolone antibiotics:

• Fluoroquinolones are used by hospitals as “first-line” antibiotics. If a patient becomes sick with an opportunistic infection, it is not good to have encouraged the persistent bacteria to have developed a resistance to fluoroquinolones (potentially due to previous over-use of the drugs)
• Fluoroquinolones are only a fraction as effective as minocycline in killing intracellular bacteria. ¹⁾
• When used frequently, undesirable side effects have been well-documented. One of the risks of fluoroquinolone antibiotics is that of tendon damage, however, this risk is reportedly relatively small for patients who are not taking steroids.²⁾
• Another researched issue is retinal detachment ^{3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12)}

For reasons ranging from prophylaxis to acute infections, Marshall Protocol (MP) are sometimes advised to take an antibiotic different from the ones used on the MP.