Potential strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance and the lack of new antibiotic drug development have gradually reduced the treatment options for bacterial infections. To combat antimicrobial resistance, potential approaches were presented to prolong the useful therapeutic life of antimicrobials available at present: (1) To maintain heterogeneity (antimicrobial cycling or mixing) of antimicrobial agents, (2) To assure and ensure adequate serum drug concentrations by preventing patient self-medication and noncompliance with recommended treatments, (3) Repurposing of withdrawn and underused antimicrobial drugs (e.g., combinations between β-lactamase inhibitors and older β-lactams), (4) Combination therapy (e.g., broad-spectrum combination antimicrobial treatment between vancomycin, neomycin and metronidazole), (5) The right timing of prescription and (6) The development of appropriate educational programs targeted specifically to children and undergraduate students for prudent antibiotic use.