Comparison of the in vitro activities of Bay 12-8039, a new quinolone, and other antimicrobials against clinically important anaerobes

Bay 12-8039, a new 8-methoxy quinolone, was compared with other agents for activity against clinically relevant anaerobes. Bay 12-8039 inhibited 91 and 96% of the 410 test isolates at 2 and 4 mu g/ml, respectively. Bay 12-8039 had activity comparable to that of metronidazole and overall was at least 16-fold more active than ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and cefoxitin, 32-fold more active than cefotetan, and at least 128-fold more active than penicillin G.