Recent developments in antimicrobial therapy for gastrointestinal infections.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Gastrointestinal infections pose a significant global health burden.
• The development of novel antimicrobial agents is crucial to combat rising antimicrobial resistance.
• Direct-acting antimicrobials offer targeted therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review human clinical trial data for direct-acting antimicrobials targeting gastrointestinal infections.
• To summarize findings from trials published between January 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020.
• To identify advancements and gaps in antimicrobial drug development for gut pathogens.

Main Methods:

• Focused narrative review of published human clinical trial data.
• Inclusion of studies on direct-acting antimicrobials for gastrointestinal infections.
• Data extraction and synthesis of trial outcomes.

Main Results:

• Clinical trials are underway for Clostridioides difficile infection (6 trials), cryptosporidiosis (1 trial), cytomegalovirus infection (3 trials), and Helicobacter pylori infection (1 trial).
• Significant progress has been made in developing treatments for these specific conditions.
• A notable absence of antimicrobials in clinical trials for many other common gastrointestinal pathogens was observed.

Conclusions:

• Direct-acting antimicrobials are advancing for select gastrointestinal infections.
• Continued research and development are essential to address the unmet needs for treating a broader range of gastrointestinal pathogens.
• Prioritization of antimicrobial development for neglected gut infections is warranted.