Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2025
Antimicrobial Synergy Testing by the Inkjet Printer-assisted Automated Checkerboard Array and the Manual Time-kill Method
Published on: April 18, 2019
The Impact of Fosfomycin on Gram Negative Infections: A Comprehensive Review
Sandeepika Dubey1, Areena Hoda Siddiqui1, Meenakshi Sharma2
1Department of Microbiology, Integral Institute of Medical Sciences Research, Integral University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh India.
Abstract:
Multidrug-resistant or extended drug resistance has created havoc when it comes to patient treatment, as options are limited because of the spread of pathogens that are extensively or multidrug-resistant (MDR or XDR) and the absence of novel antibiotics that are effective against these pathogens. Physicians have therefore started using more established antibiotics such as polymyxins, tetracyclines, and aminoglycosides. Fosfomycin has just come to light as a result of the emergence of resistance to these medications since it continues to be effective against MDR and XDR bacteria that are both gram-positive and gram-negative. Fosfomycin, a bactericidal analogue of phosphoenolpyruvate that was formerly utilised as an oral medication for uncomplicated urinary tract infections, has recently attracted the interest of clinicians around the world. It may generally be a suitable therapy option for patients with highly resistant pathogenic infections, according to the advanced resistance shown by gram-negative bacteria. This review article aims to comprehensively evaluate the impact of fosfomycin on gram negative infections, highlighting its mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and resistance patterns.
Insights
Fosfomycin shows effectiveness against multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) gram-negative bacteria, offering a vital treatment option where other antibiotics fail. This review explores its use in combating challenging bacterial infections.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Rising multidrug-resistance (MDR) and extensively drug-resistance (XDR) in pathogens limits treatment options.
- Established antibiotics face increasing resistance, necessitating alternative therapies.
- Fosfomycin is emerging as a viable option against MDR and XDR gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively evaluate the impact of fosfomycin on gram-negative infections.
- To highlight fosfomycin's mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and resistance patterns.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing studies on fosfomycin.
- Analysis of fosfomycin's effectiveness against various gram-negative pathogens.
- Evaluation of clinical trial data and resistance trends.
Main Results:
- Fosfomycin demonstrates continued efficacy against MDR and XDR gram-negative bacteria.
- Its mechanism as a phosphoenolpyruvate analogue provides a unique approach to bacterial inhibition.
- Emerging data suggests potential for treating complex infections caused by resistant strains.
Conclusions:
- Fosfomycin represents a promising therapeutic agent for infections caused by multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria.
- Further research into its clinical application and resistance mechanisms is warranted.
- It offers a valuable addition to the limited armamentarium against challenging bacterial pathogens.
