Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026
07:50
Assay Development for High-Throughput Drug Screening Against Mycobacteria
Published on: October 25, 2024
Fosfomycin: an old--new antibiotic.
1Infectious Diseases Unit, Ha'Emek Medical Centre, Afula, Israel. raz_r@clalit.org.il
Summary
Fosfomycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic effective against many bacteria. Today, fosfomycin-trometamol offers a convenient oral treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Fosfomycin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, was discovered in Spain in 1969.
- It exhibits bactericidal activity against Gram-negative and some Gram-positive bacteria.
- Initially used parenterally for severe infections, its application has evolved.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current use of fosfomycin, particularly fosfomycin-trometamol.
- To highlight its efficacy in treating urinary tract infections.
- To emphasize its role in managing uncomplicated UTIs in women.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of fosfomycin's properties and clinical applications.
- Analysis of studies on fosfomycin-trometamol for urinary tract infections.
- Examination of treatment guidelines and recommendations.
Main Results:
- Fosfomycin demonstrates broad-spectrum bactericidal activity.
- Fosfomycin-trometamol provides an effective oral formulation.
- A single oral dose is indicated for uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women.
Conclusions:
- Fosfomycin-trometamol is a valuable therapeutic option for uncomplicated UTIs.
- Its oral administration and single-dose regimen enhance patient compliance.
- Fosfomycin remains a relevant antibiotic in modern clinical practice.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Inhibitors 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...
01:27Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism
Synergism is a useful mechanism where combining two or more drugs is more effective than each constituent used alone. Such combinations are also called supra-additive interactions. The drugs collectively enhance the final therapeutic effect by acting on different targets. Another advantage is that the low dose of each constituent drug is sufficient to achieve the desired effect. This helps reduce the duration of therapy and lower the adverse effects of these drugs.
Such synergistic combinations...
Such synergistic combinations...
00:57Antibiotic Selection
Overview
01:28Inhibitors of Bacterial DNA Synthesis
Bacterial pathogens depend on precise and efficient DNA replication to sustain infection. Two type II topoisomerases—DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV—are critical to this process, as they resolve DNA supercoiling and unlink chromosomes during replication. Fluoroquinolones, synthetic derivatives of quinolones, exploit this mechanism by stabilizing the transient DNA–enzyme cleavage complex, preventing strand religation, and causing lethal double-strand breaks. These antibiotics are selectively...
01:30Development 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...
01:25Clinical 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...