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Contemporary unconventional clinical use of co-trimoxazole

E Goldberg1, J Bishara

  • 1Infectious Diseases Unit, Rabin Medical Centre, Beilinson Hospital, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Petah-Tiqva, Israel.

Clinical Microbiology and Infection : the Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
|August 20, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Co-trimoxazole, a combination antibiotic, shows effectiveness against various infections, including drug-resistant bacteria. Further research is needed to explore its full potential in combating infectious diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) has been clinically used since the late 1960s.
  • It has demonstrated efficacy against a broad spectrum of bacterial, fungal, and protozoal pathogens.
  • Recent studies highlight its effectiveness in treating invasive infections, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the accumulated evidence on the 'unconventional' clinical applications of co-trimoxazole over the past three decades.
  • To highlight the potential of co-trimoxazole in the face of increasing antibiotic resistance.
  • To identify areas for future research on this established antimicrobial agent.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of retrospective and prospective studies.
  • Synthesis of evidence on co-trimoxazole's efficacy against diverse pathogens.
  • Analysis of clinical outcomes in various infectious disease contexts.

Main Results:

  • Co-trimoxazole is effective against numerous pathogens, including Nocardia, Listeria, Brucella, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and Pneumocystis jirovecii.
  • It has shown good clinical outcomes in treating invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.
  • The drug is also effective against certain protozoal infections like toxoplasmosis, Cyclospora, and Isospora.

Conclusions:

  • Co-trimoxazole exhibits a wide range of antimicrobial activity, extending beyond its traditional uses.
  • Its efficacy against resistant pathogens warrants further investigation.
  • Large-scale studies are recommended to fully explore the potential of co-trimoxazole in modern clinical practice.

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