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Current use for old antibacterial agents: polymyxins, rifamycins, and aminoglycosides

Luke F Chen1, Donald Kaye

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Box 102359, Hanes House, Durham, NC 27710, USA. luke.chen@duke.edu

The Medical Clinics of North America
|June 18, 2011
PubMed

Insights

This review covers special-use antibacterial agents: polymyxins for resistant gram-negative infections, rifampin for refractory gram-positive infections, rifaximin for enteric conditions, and aminoglycosides for resistant gram-negative and gram-positive coccal infections.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Antibiotic resistance necessitates exploration of less common antibacterial agents.
  • Special-use antibiotics are crucial for treating infections resistant to standard therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the therapeutic applications of polymyxins, rifampin, rifaximin, and aminoglycosides.
  • To highlight the roles of these agents in managing challenging bacterial infections.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of clinical studies and guidelines.
  • Analysis of the mechanisms of action and resistance patterns.

Main Results:

  • Polymyxins are reserved for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli.
  • Rifampin and rifaximin show efficacy in specific Gram-positive and enteric infections, respectively.
  • Aminoglycosides are valuable adjuncts for resistant Gram-negative and certain Gram-positive infections.

Conclusions:

  • Special-use antibiotics like polymyxins, rifampin, rifaximin, and aminoglycosides play vital roles in combating resistant bacterial infections.
  • Judicious use of these agents is essential for optimizing patient outcomes.

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