Novel florfenicol compounds having the chemical structure:or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof or a solvate thereof, or prodrug thereof, wherein R1 is CHCl2, CHClF, CHF2, CHBrCl, CH3, CH2N3, CH2CN, CH(R2)NH2 or CH X1X2; where R2 is H, CH3 or CH2OH, and X1 and X2 are independently selected halogens; and R3 is CH2Cl, CH2F, CHF2, CHCl2 or CH2OH 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.