Are new antibiotics on the horizon?
BACKGROUND
The development of new antimicrobials is driven by the emergence of resistant bacteria, a change in disease pattern such as that caused by opportunistic and nosocomial infections and a need for improved pharmacokinetics or reduced adverse reactions.


OBJECTIVE
This article looks at the emerging resistances of significance in the 1990s and then at the new antibiotics that are either to be released or are under development.


CONCLUSIONS
Although some of these antibiotics show great promise, their long term value will ultimately be determined by how appropriately they are used by the medical community.
Christiansen
K
K
Royal Perth Hospital, Western Australia.
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015507:Drugs, Investigational