Ciprofloxacin — sold under the brand name Cipro — is a powerful broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic used to treat over a dozen serious bacterial infections. It works by disrupting bacterial DNA replication, stopping the infection from spreading. Cipro (ciprofloxacin), a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, is used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections, including certain skin, bone, joint, abdominal, prostate, respiratory and genitourinary tract infections. Ciprofloxacin (generic name), Cipro, Cipro XR (brand names) is an antibiotic prescribed for the treatment of many skin, lung, airway, bone, and joint infections caused by susceptible bacteria. Ciprofloxacin is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections. Ciprofloxacin belongs to a class of drugs called quinolone antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This antibiotic treats only bacterial infections. It will not work for virus infections (such as common cold, flu). Ciprofloxacin: learn about side effects, dosage, special precautions, and more on MedlinePlus Ciprofloxacin is used to treat bacterial infections in many different parts of the body. Ciprofloxacin oral liquid and tablets are also used to treat anthrax infection after inhalational exposure. This medicine is also used to treat and prevent plague (including pneumonic and septicemic plague). Cipro (ciprofloxacin), a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, is used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections, including certain skin, bone, joint, abdominal, prostate, respiratory and genitourinary tract infections. Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) is a fluoroquinolone (or quinolone ) antibiotic. It works by blocking certain enzymes (proteins) that bacteria use to grow and repair their genetic material (DNA) in order to survive. What is ciprofloxacin used for? Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic that is commonly used for the following infections caused by certain bacteria. Ciprofloxacin may not be appropriate for some of. Ciprofloxacin is used to treat a wide variety of infections, including infections of bones and joints, endocarditis, bacterial gastroenteritis, malignant otitis externa, bubonic plague, respiratory tract infections, cellulitis, urinary tract infections, prostatitis, anthrax, and chancroid.