Abstract
The increasing emergence of serious multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative infections has led to a new health-care crisis. These infections predominately include MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae and MDR Acinetobacter baumannii. These organisms are present in a variety of clinical settings, but there is a distinct paucity of antibiotics to effectively treat these infections. The increasing use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and lack of good stewardship have contributed to the increase in these MDR organisms. This review focuses on the main MDR Gram-negative infections contributing to the current crisis in health care, their mechanisms of resistance and various treatment options for empiric therapy.
Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.
MeSH terms
-
Acinetobacter Infections / drug therapy
-
Acinetobacter Infections / epidemiology
-
Acinetobacter Infections / microbiology
-
Acinetobacter baumannii / drug effects
-
Acinetobacter baumannii / enzymology
-
Acinetobacter baumannii / pathogenicity
-
Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
-
Cross Infection / drug therapy*
-
Cross Infection / epidemiology
-
Cross Infection / microbiology*
-
Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial*
-
Gram-Negative Aerobic Bacteria / drug effects*
-
Gram-Negative Aerobic Bacteria / enzymology
-
Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / drug therapy*
-
Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / epidemiology
-
Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / microbiology*
-
Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
-
Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / microbiology
-
Humans
-
Pseudomonas Infections / drug therapy
-
Pseudomonas Infections / epidemiology
-
Pseudomonas Infections / microbiology
-
Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects
-
Pseudomonas aeruginosa / enzymology
-
beta-Lactamases / metabolism
Substances
-
Anti-Bacterial Agents
-
beta-Lactamases