Emerging antibiotic resistance: carbapenemase-producing enterobacteria. Bad new bugs, still no new drugs

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health security threat requiring actions across government sectors and society. Many factors are involved in this phenomenon, being overuse of antibiotics, incorrect antibiotic prophylaxis, and use of antibiotics for zootechnic reasons the main causes of the increasing rate of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria. The impact of resistance to antimicrobials is an important threat due also to the emergence of MDR Gram-negative bacteria resistant to carbapenems, and the lack of the research for new active molecules. The production of extended spectrum beta-lactamase enzymes has been the first threatening mechanism for Gram-negative resistance to antibiotics, which prompted the development of new classes of antibiotics such as carbapenems. Unfortunately, resistance to carbapenems developed because of multiple mechanisms including efflux pumps, porin mutations and enzyme production, being the latter particularly relevant in terms of diffusion due to the genes located within plasmids that drive their horizontal diffusion. In this scenario, antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP) are a mandatory resource in fighting the resistance spread. The reduction of total amount of antibiotics administration in the hospital setting and guiding prescribers in the correct administration of antibiotics for the smallest period possible, at the correct dosage, can be defined as the first goals of an ASP. Anyway, in an efficacious ASP, apart from antibiotic administration, efforts must been made in ensuring the lowest probability of spreading of MDR by efficacious measures of isolation of carriers, and by offering tools for a rapid diagnosis of viral infections avoiding the administration of unnecessary antibiotics. A continuous audit of the ASP programs and a correct assessment of the allergy to drugs such as penicillin have to complete the program. Currently, only a few options are available for patients with an infection sustained by Gram-negative MDR bacteria. All the options actually available are based on the administration of colystin, an old drug whose real efficacy is reduced due to its relevant toxicity, or on the administration of recently proposed drugs such as ceftolozane-tazobactam, ceftazidime-avibactam and meropenem-vaborbactam. All these new drugs do not have a novel mechanism of action and have limited spectrum in term of activity against MDR bacteria. In conclusion, antimicrobial resistance is a global emergence and AMP is the most powerful tool actually available. Few limited options are available to treat infections due to Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteria. Antimicrobial molecules with true novel mechanism of action are needed to win the fight against antimicrobial resistance.