Definition

A type of antibiotic that is effective against a wide range of bacteria and is derived from nalidixic acid.

Example

The doctor prescribed a fluoroquinolone to treat the bacterial infection.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of fluoroquinolone antibiotics?

Yeah, I think they're used to treat some serious infections.

Exactly! I learned they are derived from nalidixic acid.

That's interesting! I guess knowing about them can help us understand our medications better.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Fluoroquinolone → It is formed from "fluoro-" (from Latin *fluor*, meaning to flow or a reference to fluorine, a chemical element) and "quinolone" (from the root "quinol" which is derived from the Latin *quina*, meaning cinchona, a tree whose bark was historically used for medicinal purposes, and the suffix "-one" indicating a ketone). The word refers to a class of antibiotics that contain fluorine and are derived from quinolone compounds.

Memory Tip

Think of 'fluor' as relating to a chemical element that 'flows' and 'quinolone' as a compound derived from a medicinal tree. This helps you remember that fluoroquinolone is a type of antibiotic that includes fluorine in its structure.

Visually Confused Words