Will new antimicrobials overcome resistance among Gram-negatives?

Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2011 Oct;9(10):909-22. doi: 10.1586/eri.11.107.

Abstract

The spread of resistance among Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria represents a growing challenge for the development of new antimicrobials. The pace of antibiotic drug development has slowed during the last decade and, especially for Gram-negatives, clinicians are facing a dramatic shortage in the availability of therapeutic options to face the emergency of the resistance problem throughout the world. In this alarming scenario, although there is a shortage of compounds reaching the market in the near future, antibiotic discovery remains one of the keys to successfully stem and maybe overcome the tide of resistance. Analogs of already known compounds and new agents belonging to completely new classes of antimicrobials are in early stages of development. Novel and promising anti-Gram-negative antimicrobials belong both to old (cephalosporins, carbapenems, β-lactamase inhibitors, monobactams, aminoglycosides, polymyxin analogues and tetracycline) and completely new antibacterial classes (boron-containing antibacterial protein synthesis inhibitors, bis-indoles, outer membrane synthesis inhibitors, antibiotics targeting novel sites of the 50S ribosomal subunit and antimicrobial peptides). However, all of these compounds are still far from being introduced into clinical practice. Therefore, infection control policies and optimization in the use of already existing molecules are still the most effective approaches to reduce the spread of resistance and preserve the activity of antimicrobials.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aminoglycosides / administration & dosage
  • Aminoglycosides / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / administration & dosage
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / therapeutic use
  • Carbapenems / administration & dosage
  • Carbapenems / therapeutic use
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Discovery
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / drug effects*
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / physiology
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / pathogenicity
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / physiology
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / drug therapy*
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Indoles / administration & dosage
  • Indoles / therapeutic use
  • Infection Control / organization & administration
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Monobactams / administration & dosage
  • Monobactams / therapeutic use
  • Polymyxins / administration & dosage
  • Polymyxins / therapeutic use
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • beta-Lactamases / administration & dosage
  • beta-Lactamases / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Aminoglycosides
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • Carbapenems
  • Indoles
  • Monobactams
  • Polymyxins
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors
  • beta-Lactamases