Antimicrobial Resistance and New Antimicrobial Agents, A Review of the Literature

Curr Med Chem. 2025;32(30):6497-6516. doi: 10.2174/0109298673306699240614112615.

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance has progressively diminished the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics, necessitating the cessation of clinical treatment. Consequently, novel antibacterial agents are urgently needed. We review studies on antimicrobial agents published during 2002-2023. Most of these studies were published within the last 10 years. By analyzing recent articles on antibiotic resistance and the development of new antibacterial drugs, we showed that although drug resistance is inevitable, the issue is being addressed gradually via the discovery and clinical application of antimicrobial peptides, nanomaterial drugs, and bacteriophage therapy. In light of the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, the development of new antimicrobial agents will require innovation in a field that has relied on traditional methods of discovery and development.

Keywords: Antibiotics; antimicrobial agents; antimicrobial peptides; antimicrobial resistance; bacteriophages; drug-resistant infections; nanomaterial drugs..

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / pharmacology
  • Anti-Infective Agents* / chemistry
  • Anti-Infective Agents* / pharmacology
  • Antimicrobial Peptides / chemistry
  • Antimicrobial Peptides / pharmacology
  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial* / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Antimicrobial Peptides