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Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Antimicrobial Characterization of Advanced Materials for Bioengineering Applications
08:08

Antimicrobial Characterization of Advanced Materials for Bioengineering Applications

Published on: August 4, 2018

Advances in antibacterial therapy against emerging bacterial pathogens

Spyros Pournaras1, Elias Iosifidis, Emmanuel Roilides

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Medical School, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.

Seminars in Hematology
|June 25, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Antimicrobial resistance in gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria is a growing threat, especially in hospitals. New antibiotics and infection control are crucial for managing multidrug-resistant organisms in vulnerable patients.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria as nosocomial pathogens.
  • Specific concerns include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), and MDR Enterobacteriaceae.
  • Non-fermenting bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii exhibit resistance to most antibiotics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current landscape of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens.
  • To discuss the challenges and potential strategies for managing infections caused by these organisms.
  • To highlight the role of newer antibacterial agents and infection control measures.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on antimicrobial resistance.
  • Analysis of emerging resistance mechanisms in gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.
  • Evaluation of the efficacy and limitations of current and novel antibacterial agents.

Main Results:

  • Newer agents like linezolid, tigecycline, and daptomycin target resistant gram-positive bacteria.
  • Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases and carbapenemases are key resistance mechanisms in Enterobacteriaceae.
  • Colistin shows activity against some MDR gram-negative bacteria, but its use is debated; newer carbapenems and tigecycline offer limited advantages.

Conclusions:

  • Rational use of newer antibiotics combined with stringent infection control is essential.
  • These strategies may help manage MDR organisms and improve outcomes for immunocompromised patients.
  • Further research and development of effective treatments are needed to combat the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance.

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