Antimicrobial Resistance

Abstract

The development of antimicrobial drugs, and particularly of antibiotics, has played a considerable role in substantially reducing the morbidity and mortality rates ofmany infectious diseases. However, thefact that bacteria can develop resistance to antibiotics has produced a situation where antimicrobial agents are losing their effectiveness because of the spread and persistence of drug-resistant organisms. To combat this, more and more antibiotics with increased therapeutic and prophylactic action will need to be developed. This article is concerned with antibiotic resistance in bacteria which are pathogenic to man and animals. The historical background is given, as well as some information on the present situation and trends of antibiotic resistance to certain bacteria in different parts of the world. Considerable concern is raised over the use of antibiotics in man and animals. It is stated that antibiotic resistance in human pathogens is widely attributed to the "misuse" of antibiotics for treatment and prophylaxis in man and to the administration of antibiotics to animals for a variety of purposes (growth promotion, prophylaxis, or therapy), leading to the accumulation of resistant bacteria in their flora. Factors favouring the development of resistance are discussed.

Antibacterial Cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa: A Structure−Activity Study

“…This issue has enormous clinical implications, since MRSA is spreading throughout the world and, in the United States, currently accounts for more deaths each year than AIDS. 24 Although the use of cannabinoids as systemic antibacterial agents awaits rigorous clinical trials and an assessment of the extent of their inactivation by serum, 25 their topical application to reduce skin colonization by MRSA seems promising, since MRSA resistant to mupirocin, the standard antibiotic for this indication, are being detected at a threatening rate. 26 Furthermore, since the cannabinoid anti-infective chemotype seems remarkably tolerant to modifications in the prenyl moiety, semipurified mixtures of cannabinoids could also be used as cheap and biodegradable antibacterial agents for cosmetics and toiletries, providing an alternative to the substantially much less potent synthetic preservatives, many of which are currently questioned for their suboptimal safety and environmental profile.…”

“…Given the availability of C. sativa strains producing high concentrations of nonpsychotropic cannabinoids, this plant represents an interesting source of antibacterial agents to address the problem of multidrug resistance in MRSA and other pathogenic bacteria. This issue has enormous clinical implications, since MRSA is spreading throughout the world and, in the United States, currently accounts for more deaths each year than AIDS . Although the use of cannabinoids as systemic antibacterial agents awaits rigorous clinical trials and an assessment of the extent of their inactivation by serum, their topical application to reduce skin colonization by MRSA seems promising, since MRSA resistant to mupirocin, the standard antibiotic for this indication, are being detected at a threatening rate .…”

Glyceryl trinitrate blocks staphyloxanthin and biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus

“…The rate of methicillin resistance among S. aureus reached a peak in such a way that the mortality rate in the U.S. due to invasive MRSA exceeds that due to AIDS27,28. This problem needs urgent action for development of other therapeutic approaches29.…”

Curcumin-loaded graphene oxide flakes as an effective antibacterial system against methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus

“…Multidrug resistance has widely increased worldwide and the most commonly used antibiotics became no longer effective in controlling infections. MRSA infections represent a global health challenge because the annual frequency of deaths from MRSA has rapidly increased and has surpassed deaths caused by human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome [47]. A renewed interest on natural compounds like curcumin against MRSA has developed due to the high risk of side effects and development of resistance to conventional antibiotic therapies [8].…”