Treatment options for multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter species
1Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
Drugs
|January 17, 2008
Summary
Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter infections are a growing threat. This review covers treatment options, including older, newer, and combination therapies for these challenging Gram-negative infections.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter spp. are significant nosocomial pathogens.
- These bacteria cause severe Gram-negative infections like bloodstream infections and pneumonia.
- Carbapenem resistance in Acinetobacter spp. necessitates alternative treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize current evidence and experience in treating multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter infections.
- To review the use of non-traditional antimicrobial agents and combination therapies.
- To discuss alternative drug administration routes and specific infection types.
Main Methods:
- Review of cumulative experience and evidence from case reports, case series, and observational studies.
- Emphasis on treatment strategies for carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter strains.
- Analysis of combination antimicrobial therapy and alternative drug administration.
Main Results:
- Older drugs (colistin) and less common agents (sulbactam, tigecycline) are used for resistant strains.
- Evidence suggests these alternative regimens can be efficacious with manageable toxicity.
- Combination therapy is frequently employed for multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter infections.
Conclusions:
- Effective treatment of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter infections relies on a range of antimicrobial agents beyond carbapenems.
- Combination therapies and alternative administration routes show promise.
- Further research is needed to standardize treatment protocols for these difficult-to-treat infections.
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