Enrofloxacin is a synthetic broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic widely used in veterinary medicine to treat bacterial infections of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary, and skin systems in animals. It acts by inhibiting bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, enzymes essential for DNA replication and transcription, resulting in rapid bactericidal activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms. Developed in the 1980s as part of the second generation of fluoroquinolones, enrofloxacin was designed specifically for veterinary use to provide improved tissue penetration, oral bioavailability, and prolonged activity. Since its introduction, it has become an important antimicrobial agent in animal health management, although its use is carefully regulated to minimize antimicrobial resistance and protect public health.
