American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) Practice Exam 2025 - Free ABFM Practice Questions and Study Guide

Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic widely regarded as effective against the common bacterial pathogens that cause traveler's diarrhea, such as Escherichia coli. This class of antibiotics works by inhibiting bacterial DNA synthesis, leading to cell death. The rapid onset of symptoms from bacteria encountered during travel, often due to contaminated food or water, makes ciprofloxacin a go-to choice because of its efficacy against these enteric pathogens.

While the other antibiotics listed may treat a variety of infections, they are not typically first-line or as effective as ciprofloxacin for traveler's diarrhea. Amoxicillin, for instance, is often less effective against the resistant strains of E. coli commonly implicated in this condition. Tetracycline and doxycycline, while useful for some infections, are not as broadly effective against the specific bacterial causes of traveler's diarrhea and have more limitations regarding side effects and interactions. Hence, ciprofloxacin remains the preferred option in this context.