title: Therapeutic challenges posed by bacterial bioterrorism threats.
abstract: The events of the autumn of 2001 in the United States made it clear that the spectre of the use of microorganisms to intentionally harm humans is a reality. The current strategy to control disease outbreaks caused by the intentional release of bacteria is to use antimicrobial agents, both therapeutically and prophylactically. However, multidrug-resistant strains of bacterial bioterrorism agents occur naturally or have been bio-engineered, indicating how vulnerable this strategy is.
mesh_terms: D000881:Anthrax / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D023482:Bioterrorism / Q000517:prevention & control; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000635:transmission; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000145:classification / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D006801:Humans; D010930:Plague / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D011634:Public Health
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents