Florfenicol is a synthetic monofluorinated derivative of thiamphenicol. Its molecular formula is C12H14Cl2FNO4S. It presents as a white or off-white crystalline powder that is odorless; it is very slightly soluble in water and chloroform, slightly soluble in glacial acetic acid, and soluble in methanol and ethanol. It is a novel, broad-spectrum antibacterial agent of the chloramphenicol class, developed specifically for veterinary use in the late 1980s.
It was first launched in Japan in 1990. In 1993, Norway approved the drug for the treatment of furunculosis in salmon. In 1995, France, the United Kingdom, Austria, Mexico, and Spain approved its use for the treatment of bacterial respiratory diseases in cattle. In Japan and Mexico, it has also been approved as a feed additive for swine to prevent and treat bacterial diseases; the drug has since been approved for use in my country as well.
Florfenicol is an antibiotic that exerts a broad-spectrum bacteriostatic effect by inhibiting peptidyl transferase activity. Its antibacterial spectrum is extensive, encompassing various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as mycoplasmas. Susceptible pathogens include *Haemophilus* species (in cattle and swine), *Shigella dysenteriae*, *Salmonella* species, *Escherichia coli*, *Streptococcus pneumoniae*, *Haemophilus influenzae*, *Streptococcus* species, *Staphylococcus aureus*, *Chlamydia*, *Leptospira*, and *Rickettsia*, among others. Due to its lipophilicity, this product readily diffuses into bacterial cells. It primarily acts on the 50S subunit of the bacterial 70S ribosome, inhibiting transpeptidase activity; this impedes peptide chain elongation, thereby blocking peptide bond formation and ultimately inhibiting protein synthesis to achieve its antibacterial effect. Following oral administration, the product is rapidly absorbed and widely distributed throughout the body; it is characterized by a long half-life, resulting in high blood drug concentrations that are sustained over an extended period.
