Targeted imaging of bacterial infections: advances, hurdles and hopes

Abstract

Bacterial infections represent an increasing problem in modern health care, in particular due to ageing populations and accumulating bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Diagnosis is rarely straightforward and consequently treatment is often delayed or indefinite. Therefore, novel tools that can be clinically implemented are urgently needed to accurately and swiftly diagnose infections. Especially, the direct imaging of infections is an attractive option. The challenge of specifically imaging bacterial infections in vivo can be met by targeting bacteria with an imaging agent. Here we review the current status of targeted imaging of bacterial infections, and we discuss advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches. Indeed, significant progress has been made in this field and the clinical implementation of targeted imaging of bacterial infections seems highly feasible. This was recently highlighted by the use of so-called smart activatable probes and a fluorescently labelled derivative of the antibiotic vancomycin. A major challenge remains the selection of the best imaging probes, and we therefore present a set of target selection criteria for clinical implementation of targeted bacterial imaging. Altogether, we conclude that the spectrum of potential applications for targeted bacterial imaging is enormous, ranging from fundamental research on infectious diseases to diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Prescription for antibiotics at drug shops and strategies to improve quality of care and patient safety: a cross-sectional survey in the private sector in Uganda

“…An earlier study in Uganda also found that of the patients who sought treatment at private clinics within 1 week of onset of symptoms, only 7% of them were properly managed. [16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Similar findings have been documented in Ghana where a high proportion, 70% of the respondents, practiced self-medication, and the most common antibiotic used was amoxicillin. 23 It is noted that the majority of drug shops (53.3%), were injecting patients probably with gentamicin and penicillin, to treat other bacterial infections like skin infections and urethritis or urinary tract infections.…”

Nanoparticle targeting of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria for magnetic-based separations of bacterial pathogens

“…Targeted delivery can also reduce off-target side-effects, and enable or revive the use of older-generation antibiotics that have been previously disregarded due to toxicity concerns (Falagas et al 2008). In addition, targeted NPs can be used to image or phenotype infections by delivering imaging contrast agents (van Oosten et al 2015).…”

Specific Imaging of Bacterial Infection Using 6″-18F-Fluoromaltotriose: A Second-Generation PET Tracer Targeting the Maltodextrin Transporter in Bacteria

“…The use of 67 Ga-citrate, 18 F-FDG, and labeled leukocytes has been well documented (6)(7)(8). Unfortunately, none of these tracers are specific for bacteria and are therefore unable to distinguish bacterial infection from sterile inflammation.…”