Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Generating Transposon Insertion Libraries in Gram-Negative Bacteria for High-Throughput Sequencing
08:19

Generating Transposon Insertion Libraries in Gram-Negative Bacteria for High-Throughput Sequencing

Published on: July 7, 2020

Gram-negative antibiotic resistance: there is a price to pay

Thomas G Slama1

  • 1Indiana University School of Medicine, 8240 Nabb Road #300, Indianapolis, Indiana 46260, USA. slamaidi@aol.com

Critical Care (London, England)
|June 17, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Increasing antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative pathogens like Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas drives severe hospital infections. Prompt, effective antibiotic treatment is crucial for better patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Rising resistance rates in Gram-negative pathogens (Acinetobacter spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacteriaceae) are a significant concern for nosocomial infections.
  • Multiresistant strains are linked to extended hospital stays, increased costs, and higher mortality, especially with delayed or inappropriate initial antibiotic therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To emphasize the critical importance of rapid and effective antibiotic treatment for serious nosocomial infections caused by multiresistant Gram-negative pathogens.
  • To highlight the need for a comprehensive strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance.

Main Methods:

  • This study is a review and synthesis of existing data on antimicrobial resistance and its clinical impact.
  • Analysis of the relationship between initial antibiotic therapy and patient outcomes in cases of multiresistant Gram-negative infections.

Main Results:

  • Infections caused by multiresistant Gram-negative pathogens do not negatively impact patient outcomes or costs when appropriate initial antibiotic therapy is administered.
  • Delayed or ineffective antibiotic treatment in the presence of multiresistant strains is associated with adverse patient outcomes and increased healthcare expenditures.

Conclusions:

  • A 'hit hard and hit fast' approach is essential for treating serious nosocomial infections suspected to be caused by multiresistant pathogens.
  • Combating antimicrobial resistance requires a multidisciplinary effort, including enhanced antimicrobial stewardship, improved infection control, and the development of novel antimicrobial agents.

More Related Videos

One-day Workflow Scheme for Bacterial Pathogen Detection and Antimicrobial Resistance Testing from Blood Cultures08:30

One-day Workflow Scheme for Bacterial Pathogen Detection and Antimicrobial Resistance Testing from Blood Cultures

Published on: July 9, 2012

Visualization of Bacterial Resistance using Fluorescent Antibiotic Probes08:23

Visualization of Bacterial Resistance using Fluorescent Antibiotic Probes

Published on: March 2, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Development of Antibiotic Resistance01:30

Development of Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern that arises when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotic treatments. This resistance can be intrinsic, acquired through genetic mutations, or transferred between bacteria via horizontal gene transfer. The development of antibiotic resistance poses significant challenges in treating bacterial infections and necessitates ongoing research to develop new therapeutic strategies.Intrinsic resistance occurs when bacterial...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
Antibiotic Selection00:57

Antibiotic Selection

Overview
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis01:23

Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis

Bacterial cell walls are typically rigid structures composed mainly of peptidoglycan, a mesh-like polymer that provides mechanical strength and maintains cell shape. The synthesis of peptidoglycan is a crucial process in bacterial growth and serves as a primary target for many antibiotics.Mechanism of Action of Beta-Lactam AntibioticsBeta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin, inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis in actively growing cells. These antibiotics share a characteristic four-membered...
Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis01:25

Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis

Aminoglycosides constitute a highly potent class of bactericidal antibiotics that exert their antimicrobial effects by targeting the bacterial ribosome, specifically disrupting protein synthesis. These polycationic molecules consist of amino-modified sugars linked via glycosidic bonds to an aminocyclitol core such as 2-deoxystreptamine or streptamine. Their strong positive charges facilitate tight binding to the negatively charged phosphate backbone of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), primarily at the 16S...