scholarly journals Better living through chemistry: Addressing emerging antibiotic resistance

2018 ◽  
Vol 243 (6) ◽  
pp. 538-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan P Coussens ◽  
Ashley L Molinaro ◽  
Kayla J Culbertson ◽  
Tyler Peryea ◽  
Gergely Zahoránszky-Köhalmi ◽  
...  

The increasing emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria is recognized as a major threat to human health worldwide. While the use of small molecule antibiotics has enabled many modern medical advances, it has also facilitated the development of resistant organisms. This minireview provides an overview of current small molecule drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in humans, the unintended consequences of antibiotic use, and the mechanisms that underlie the development of drug resistance. Promising new approaches and strategies to counter antibiotic-resistant bacteria with small molecules are highlighted. However, continued public investment in this area is critical to maintain an edge in our evolutionary “arms race” against antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. Impact statement The alarming increase in antibiotic-resistant microorganisms is a rapidly emerging threat to human health throughout the world. Historically, small molecule drugs have played a major role in controlling bacterial infections and they continue to offer tremendous potential in countering resistant organisms. This minireview provides a broad overview of the relevant issues, including the diversity of FDA-approved small molecule drugs and mechanisms of drug resistance, unintended consequences of antibiotic use, the current state of development for small molecule antibacterials and financial challenges that impact progress towards novel therapies. The content will be informative to diverse stakeholders, including clinicians, basic scientists, translational scientists and policy makers, and may be used as a bridge between these key players to advance the development of much-needed therapeutics.

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
pp. 35-45
Author(s):  
A. Balala ◽  
T.G. Huong ◽  
S.G. Fenwick

Antibiotics saves millions of lives in human and animal from bacterial infections, but resistance has been occurred and spreading borderless which pose health and economic problems. This study aimed to describe epidemiology (prevalence) of antibiotic resistant bacteria in human and animals and describing risk factors with strategic control efforts in Sub-Sahara Africa countries. Total 72 articles published from 2010 to 2017 were reviewed which reported on bacterium resistance to commonly-used antibiotics of different groups. Majority of isolated bacteria were highly resistant to b-lactams, Tetracycline and Sulphonamide, moderate resistant to Gentamycine and Aminoglycoside with low resistant to cephalosporin and quinolones for bacteria isolated from human while isolates from animal have high resistance to majority of antibiotic. High antibiotic resistant was associated by presence of weak/no regulation and irrational antibiotics use in Animal and Human health system, despite there is paucity of published data from central and southern African countries, lack of data sharing among laboratories and presence of few initiatives on control strategies of antimicrobial resistance while most of them are faced by resource limitations (skilled personnel, Equipments and Fund allocation). This study recommend that awareness on rational antibiotic use must be created, strong regulation to limit accessibility of antibiotics over the counter prescription, strengthening laboratory based diagnosis and surveillance, Infection control and prevention in hospitals with strong biosafety and biosecurity in animal farms are crucial. Adoption of “One Health Approach” is very important through multisectoral involvement, information sharing and networking.


2020 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
pp. 35-45
Author(s):  
A. Balala ◽  
T.G. Huong ◽  
S.G. Fenwick

Antibiotics saves millions of lives in human and animal from bacterial infections, but resistance has been occurred and spreading borderless which pose health and economic problems. This study aimed to describe epidemiology (prevalence) of antibiotic resistant bacteria in human and animals and describing risk factors with strategic control efforts in Sub-Sahara Africa countries. Total 72 articles published from 2010 to 2017 were reviewed which reported on bacterium resistance to commonly-used antibiotics of different groups. Majority of isolated bacteria were highly resistant to b-lactams, Tetracycline and Sulphonamide, moderate resistant to Gentamycine and Aminoglycoside with low resistant to cephalosporin and quinolones for bacteria isolated from human while isolates from animal have high resistance to majority of antibiotic. High antibiotic resistant was associated by presence of weak/no regulation and irrational antibiotics use in Animal and Human health system, despite there is paucity of published data from central and southern African countries, lack of data sharing among laboratories and presence of few initiatives on control strategies of antimicrobial resistance while most of them are faced by resource limitations (skilled personnel, Equipments and Fund allocation). This study recommend that awareness on rational antibiotic use must be created, strong regulation to limit accessibility of antibiotics over the counter prescription, strengthening laboratory based diagnosis and surveillance, Infection control and prevention in hospitals with strong biosafety and biosecurity in animal farms are crucial. Adoption of “One Health Approach” is very important through multisectoral involvement, information sharing and networking.


Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 571
Author(s):  
Nicole Zacharias ◽  
Iris Löckener ◽  
Sarah M. Essert ◽  
Esther Sib ◽  
Gabriele Bierbaum ◽  
...  

Bacterial infections have been treated effectively by antibiotics since the discovery of penicillin in 1928. A worldwide increase in the use of antibiotics led to the emergence of antibiotic resistant strains in almost all bacterial pathogens, which complicates the treatment of infectious diseases. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria play an important role in increasing the risk associated with the usage of surface waters (e.g., irrigation, recreation) and the spread of the resistance genes. Many studies show that important pathogenic antibiotic-resistant bacteria can enter the environment by the discharge of sewage treatment plants and combined sewage overflow events. Mussels have successfully been used as bio-indicators of heavy metals, chemicals and parasites; they may also be efficient bio-indicators for viruses and bacteria. In this study an influence of the discharge of a sewage treatment plant could be shown in regard to the presence of E. coli in higher concentrations in the mussels downstream the treatment plant. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, resistant against one or two classes of antibiotics and relevance for human health could be detected in the mussels at different sampling sites of the river Rhine. No multidrug-resistant bacteria could be isolated from the mussels, although they were found in samples of the surrounding water body.


Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 650
Author(s):  
Kylen E. Ridyard ◽  
Joerg Overhage

The rise in antimicrobial resistant bacteria threatens the current methods utilized to treat bacterial infections. The development of novel therapeutic agents is crucial in avoiding a post-antibiotic era and the associated deaths from antibiotic resistant pathogens. The human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 has been considered as a potential alternative to conventional antibiotics as it displays broad spectrum antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities as well as immunomodulatory functions. While LL-37 has shown promising results, it has yet to receive regulatory approval as a peptide antibiotic. Despite the strong antimicrobial properties, LL-37 has several limitations including high cost, lower activity in physiological environments, susceptibility to proteolytic degradation, and high toxicity to human cells. This review will discuss the challenges associated with making LL-37 into a viable antibiotic treatment option, with a focus on antimicrobial resistance and cross-resistance as well as adaptive responses to sub-inhibitory concentrations of the peptide. The possible methods to overcome these challenges, including immobilization techniques, LL-37 delivery systems, the development of LL-37 derivatives, and synergistic combinations will also be considered. Herein, we describe how combination therapy and structural modifications to the sequence, helicity, hydrophobicity, charge, and configuration of LL-37 could optimize the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities of LL-37 for future clinical use.


Author(s):  
Ana Rita Almeida ◽  
Marta Tacão ◽  
Joana Soares ◽  
Inês Domingues ◽  
Isabel Henriques

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens due to worldwide antibiotic use is raising concern in several settings, including aquaculture. In this work, the selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) was evaluated after exposure of zebrafish to oxytetracycline (OTC) for two months, followed by a recovery period. The selection of ARB in water and fish was determined using selective media. The abundance of tetA genes was estimated through qPCR. Higher prevalence of ARB was measured in all samples exposed to the antibiotic when compared to control samples, although statistical significance was only achieved five days after exposure. Isolates recovered from samples exposed to the antibiotic were affiliated with Pseudomonas and Stenotrophomonas. Various antibiotic susceptibility profiles were detected and 37% of the isolates displayed multidrug resistance (MDR). The selection of the tetA gene was confirmed by qPCR at the highest OTC concentration tested. Two MDR isolates, tested using zebrafish embryos, caused significant mortality, indicating a potential impact on fish health and survival. Overall, our work highlights the potential impact of antibiotic contamination in the selection of potential pathogenic ARB and ARGS.


2009 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S75-S93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark D. Sobsey ◽  
Suresh D. Pillai

A consideration of available evidence for some known and well-characterized waterborne pathogens suggests that the diversity of pathogen virulence mechanisms and properties is too great to specifically predict the emergence and future human health impacts of new waterborne pathogens. However, some future emerging pathogens are existing microbes that will be discovered to cause disease. Some will arise from existing ones by either predictable evolutionary and adaptation changes or by unpredictable changes involving a variety of biotic and abiotic mechanisms. Many, and perhaps most, emerging waterborne human pathogens will be zoonotic agents or come from other non-human reservoirs. The emergence of some waterborne pathogens will be related to antibiotic use, resulting in emerging antibiotic-resistant waterborne pathogens. Reliably predicting pathogen emergence and human health effects based on VFARs or other properties of microbes and their hosts is not possible at this time. This is because of (1) the diversity of microbes and their virulence and pathogenicity properties, (2) their ability to change unpredictably, (3) their intimate and diverse interrelationships with a myriad of hosts and dynamic natural and anthropogenic environments and (4) the subtle variations in the immune status of individuals. The best available approach to predicting waterborne pathogen emergence is through vigilant use of microbial, infectious disease and epidemiological surveillance. Understanding the microbial metagenome of the human body can also lead to a better understanding of how we define and characterize pathogens, commensals and opportunists.


Author(s):  
Dana Trevas ◽  
Angela M Caliendo ◽  
Kimberly Hanson ◽  
Jaclyn Levy ◽  
Christine C Ginocchio

Abstract Uptake of existing diagnostics to identify infections more accurately could minimize unnecessary antibiotic use and decrease the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (PACCARB) agree that, to improve uptake of existing diagnostics, healthcare providers, health systems, and payors all need better clinical and economic outcomes data to support use of diagnostic tests over empiric use of antibiotics, providers need better tools and education about diagnostic tests, and diagnostics developers need federal funding in the absence of a viable diagnostics market. Recommendations from PACCARB and the IDSA are amplified. Incentives for—and challenges to—diagnostics research, development, and uptake are summarized. Advocacy opportunities are given for infectious disease professionals to join the fight against antimicrobial resistance.


2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (11) ◽  
pp. 865-879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayman El-Shibiny ◽  
Salma El-Sahhar

Since their discovery in 1915, bacteriophages have been used to treat bacterial infections in animals and humans because of their unique ability to infect their specific bacterial hosts without affecting other bacterial populations. The research carried out in this field throughout the 20th century, largely in Georgia, part of USSR and Poland, led to the establishment of phage therapy protocols. However, the discovery of penicillin and sulfonamide antibiotics in the Western World during the 1930s was a setback in the advancement of phage therapy. The misuse of antibiotics has reduced their efficacy in controlling pathogens and has led to an increase in the number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. As an alternative to antibiotics, bacteriophages have become a topic of interest with the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, which are a threat to public health. Recent studies have indicated that bacteriophages can be used indirectly to detect pathogenic bacteria or directly as biocontrol agents. Moreover, they can be used to develop new molecules for clinical applications, vaccine production, drug design, and in the nanomedicine field via phage display.


2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Usman Hadi ◽  
Kuntaman Kuntaman ◽  
Mariyatul Qiptiyah ◽  
Hari Paraton

Background: Based on the results Antimicrobial Resistance in Indonesia: prevalence and prevention-study (AMRIN-study), the Ministry of Health of Indonesia in 2005 began a program antibiotic resistance control (PPRA) in some government hospitals, and is currently developing to all government teaching hospitals in Indonesia. Aim: The core activities of the PPRA are to implement standardized surveillance emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria, and the surveillance of antibiotic use in terms of quantity and quality. Method: Our research in the years 2003 showed the proportion of antibiotic use 84% of patients in a hospital. The use of inappropriate antibiotics was very high, 42% no indication. Result: In 2012 the results of surveillance showed decline of inappropriate use of antibiotic, but prevalence extended-spectrum b-lactamase (ESBL)-producing K.pneumoniae (58%), and E.coli (52%) andmethicillin-resistant S.aures (MRSA) (24%) were increasing. Conclusion: It was needed to implement the most appropriate programs to prevent the growth and development of bacteria resistant to antibiotics.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (18) ◽  
pp. 4975-4996
Author(s):  
Pengfei Zou ◽  
Wen-Ting Chen ◽  
Tongyi Sun ◽  
Yuanyuan Gao ◽  
Li-Li Li ◽  
...  

Bacterial infections, especially the refractory treatment of drug-resistant bacteria, are one of the greatest threats to human health. Self-assembling peptide-based strategies can specifically detect the bacteria at the site of infection in the body and kill it.


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