Clinical practice
← vista completaPublished on November 20, 2013 | http://doi.org/10.5867/medwave.2013.10.5849
Present and future of antibiotic therapy
Actualidad y perspectivas futuras en la antibioticoterapia
Abstract
In the race between microorganisms and antimicrobial agents, the latter are lagging behind. Thus, our ability to cope with infectious diseases is impaired. In general, new antimicrobials arise from existing classes against which microorganisms have developed multiple mechanisms of resistance. It is also possible that through cross-resistance old pathogens may quickly inactivate new compounds. The article analyzes the literature on the new antibiotics and provides an overview of the results of these compounds at the onset of the XXI century. We conclude that the increase in bacterial multidrug resistance is a growing concern and the development of new antimicrobials is uncertain. Consequently, the main weapon to curb this phenomenon is the proper use of existing antimicrobials.
