Resistance of Gram-Positive Bacteria to Current Antibacterial Agents and Overcoming Approaches
Date
2020-06-23
Authors
Jubeh, Buthaina
Breijyeh, Zeinab
Karaman, Rafik
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
The discovery of antibiotics has created a turning point in medical interventions to
pathogenic infections, but unfortunately, each discovery was consistently followed by the emergence
of resistance. The rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria has generated a great challenge to treat
infections caused by bacteria with the available antibiotics. Today, research is active in finding
new treatments for multidrug-resistant pathogens. In a step to guide the e orts, the WHO
has published a list of the most dangerous bacteria that are resistant to current treatments and requires
the development of new antibiotics for combating the resistance. Among the list are various
Gram-positive bacteria that are responsible for serious healthcare and community-associated
infections. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium,
and drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae are of particular concern. The resistance of bacteria
is an evolving phenomenon that arises from genetic mutations and/or acquired genomes. Thus,
antimicrobial resistance demands continuous e orts to create strategies to combat this problem
and optimize the use of antibiotics. This article aims to provide a review of the most critical
resistant Gram-positive bacterial pathogens, their mechanisms of resistance, and the new treatments
and approaches reported to circumvent this problem.
Description
Keywords
resistance , Gram-positive , MRSA , β-lactam , antimicrobial , antibiotic , bacteriophage , probiotic