Novel florfenicol compounds having the chemical structure: ##STR00001## or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof or a solvate thereof, or prodrug thereof, wherein R.sup.1 is CHCl.sub.2, CHClF, CHF.sub.2, CHBrCl, CH.sub.3, CH.sub.2N.sub.3, CH.sub.2CN, CH(R.sup.2)NH.sub.2 or CH X.sup.1X.sup.2; where R.sup.2 is H, CH.sub.3 or CH.sub.2OH, and X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are independently selected halogens; and R.sup.3 is CH.sub.2Cl, CH.sub.2F, CHF.sub.2, CHCl.sub.2 or CH.sub.2OH are disclosed. The compounds are useful for the treatment and/or prevention of bacterial infections in a broad range of patients such as, without limitation, birds, fish, shellfish and mammals.