The in vitro activity of gemifloxacin (SB-265805) was compared with that of other fluoroquinolones against 302 clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae, 300 clinical isolates of Haemophilus influenzae and 28 clinical isolates of Moraxella catarrhalis, including multiply resistant strains. Gemifloxacin at 0.12 mg/L inhibited all microorganisms tested. MIC(90) values of gemifloxacin, trovafloxacin, grepafloxacin and levofloxacin against all (630) isolates tested were 0.03, 0.12, 0.12 and 1 mg/L, respectively. MIC(90) values of the same fluoroquinolones against S. pneumoniae were 0.06, 0.25, 0.12 and 1 mg/L, respectively.