Tackling Threats and Future Problems of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria

Abstract

With the advent of the antibiotic era, the overuse and inappropriate consumption and application of antibiotics have driven the rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens. Antimicrobial resistance increases the morbidity, mortality, length of hospitalization and healthcare costs. Among Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and among the Gram-negative bacteria, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBLs)-producing bacteria have become a major global healthcare problem in the 21st century. The pressure to use antibiotics guarantees that the spread and prevalence of these as well as of future emerging multidrug-resistant pathogens will be a persistent phenomenon. The unfeasibility of reversing antimicrobial resistance back towards susceptibility and the critical need to treat bacterial infection in modern medicine have burdened researchers and pharmaceutical companies to develop new antimicrobials effective against these difficult-to-treat multidrug-resistant pathogens. However, it can be anticipated that antibiotic resistance will continue to develop more rapidly than new agents to treat these infections become available and a better understanding of the molecular, evolutionary and ecological mechanisms governing the spread of antibiotic resistance is needed. The only way to curb the current crisis of antimicrobial resistance will be to develop entirely novel strategies to fight these pathogens such as combining antimicrobial drugs with other agents that counteract and obstruct the antibiotic resistant mechanisms expressed by the pathogen. Furthermore, as many antibiotics are often inappropriately prescribed, a more personalized approach based on precise diagnosis tools will ensure that proper treatments can be promptly applied leading to more targeted and effective therapies. However, in more general terms, also the overall use and release of antibiotics in the environment needs to be better controlled.

Jacalin capped platinum nanoparticles confer persistent immunity against multiple Aeromonas infection in zebrafish

“…Antibiotics, which function to reduce the spread or eliminate microbe have been successfully used to save millions of lives 3 . Unfortunately, overuse of antibiotics has led to emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria 4 . The mode of action of antibiotics itself was suggested as a reason for resistance development 5 .…”

In SilicoIdentification of Novel PrfA Inhibitors to Fight Listeriosis: A Virtual Screening and Molecular Dynamics Studies

“…To sum up, antibiotic resistance will continue to rise rapidly during the next decades and new strategies will be needed to fight human pathogens such as L. monocytogenes [39,41]. In the present manuscript we have unveiled some potential new PrfA inhibitors that target the virulence of L. monocytogenes rather than the conventional regulatory pathways.…”

“…According to the WHO one of the most serious healthcare issues that humanity will face during this 21 st century is the rise of multidrug-resistant pathogens. In this antibiotic era, the widespread use, and misuse, of antibiotics has lead to the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria strains or super bugs [38,39] and L. monocytogenes is not an exception. These strains have evolved very fast as they have acquired the genes that provide them multi-drug resistance within few decades time [38].…”

“…These microorganisms are no longer sensitive to the conventional antibiotic therapies that once were effective against and represent a serious threat. Antimicrobial resistance increases the morbidity, mortality, hospitalization length and healthcare cost representing a heavy burden that no longer can be borne [38,39].…”

“…To circumvent this threat novel antibiotic analogs are being designed, new antibiotic combinations are being considered, promising bioenhancers are being explored and novel nanomaterials and nanoparticles are also being considered [38][39][40][41]. Unfortunately, it does not seem that in the short term these strategies alone will alleviate the current situation.…”