The evolving problem of antimicrobial resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae has led to the emergence of clinical isolates susceptible to only one class of antimicrobial agents and eventually to pandrug-resistant (PDR) isolates, i.e. resistant to all available antibiotics. We reviewed the available evidence from laboratory and clinical studies that reported on polymyxin-resistant and/or PDR P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii or K. pneumoniae clinical isolates. Eleven laboratory studies reported on isolates with resistance to polymyxins, three of which (including two surveillance studies) also included data regarding PDR isolates. In addition, two clinical studies (from Central and Southern Europe) reported on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients infected with PDR isolates. These data suggest that polymyxin-resistant or PDR P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae clinical isolates are currently relatively rare. However, they have important global public health implications because of the therapeutic problems they pose. The fears for the dawn of a post-antibiotic era appear to be justified, at least for these three Gram-negative bacteria. We must increase our efforts to preserve the activity of available antibiotics, or at least expand as much as possible the period of their use, whilst intense research efforts should be focused on the development and introduction into clinical practice of new antimicrobial agents.
%0 Journal Article
%1 falagas_pandrug-resistant_2007
%A Falagas, Matthew E
%A Bliziotis, Ioannis A
%D 2007
%J International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents
%K Acinetobacter Agents, Bacteria, Bacterial Bacterial, Drug Humans, Infections, Klebsiella Multiple, Outcome Polymyxins, Pseudomonas Resistance, Treatment aeruginosa, baumannii, pneumoniae, {Anti-Bacterial} {Gram-Negative}
%N 6
%P 630--6
%R 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2006.12.012
%T Pandrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria: the dawn of the post-antibiotic era?
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17306965
%V 29
%X The evolving problem of antimicrobial resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae has led to the emergence of clinical isolates susceptible to only one class of antimicrobial agents and eventually to pandrug-resistant (PDR) isolates, i.e. resistant to all available antibiotics. We reviewed the available evidence from laboratory and clinical studies that reported on polymyxin-resistant and/or PDR P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii or K. pneumoniae clinical isolates. Eleven laboratory studies reported on isolates with resistance to polymyxins, three of which (including two surveillance studies) also included data regarding PDR isolates. In addition, two clinical studies (from Central and Southern Europe) reported on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients infected with PDR isolates. These data suggest that polymyxin-resistant or PDR P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae clinical isolates are currently relatively rare. However, they have important global public health implications because of the therapeutic problems they pose. The fears for the dawn of a post-antibiotic era appear to be justified, at least for these three Gram-negative bacteria. We must increase our efforts to preserve the activity of available antibiotics, or at least expand as much as possible the period of their use, whilst intense research efforts should be focused on the development and introduction into clinical practice of new antimicrobial agents.
@article{falagas_pandrug-resistant_2007,
abstract = {The evolving problem of antimicrobial resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae has led to the emergence of clinical isolates susceptible to only one class of antimicrobial agents and eventually to pandrug-resistant {(PDR)} isolates, i.e. resistant to all available antibiotics. We reviewed the available evidence from laboratory and clinical studies that reported on polymyxin-resistant and/or {PDR} P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii or K. pneumoniae clinical isolates. Eleven laboratory studies reported on isolates with resistance to polymyxins, three of which (including two surveillance studies) also included data regarding {PDR} isolates. In addition, two clinical studies (from Central and Southern Europe) reported on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients infected with {PDR} isolates. These data suggest that polymyxin-resistant or {PDR} P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae clinical isolates are currently relatively rare. However, they have important global public health implications because of the therapeutic problems they pose. The fears for the dawn of a post-antibiotic era appear to be justified, at least for these three Gram-negative bacteria. We must increase our efforts to preserve the activity of available antibiotics, or at least expand as much as possible the period of their use, whilst intense research efforts should be focused on the development and introduction into clinical practice of new antimicrobial agents.},
added-at = {2011-03-11T10:05:34.000+0100},
author = {Falagas, Matthew E and Bliziotis, Ioannis A},
biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2edc1db2f359acafdaf405cea07278816/jelias},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2006.12.012},
interhash = {1cca037d2e3120959fcf2ad2098e865a},
intrahash = {edc1db2f359acafdaf405cea07278816},
issn = {0924-8579},
journal = {International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents},
keywords = {Acinetobacter Agents, Bacteria, Bacterial Bacterial, Drug Humans, Infections, Klebsiella Multiple, Outcome Polymyxins, Pseudomonas Resistance, Treatment aeruginosa, baumannii, pneumoniae, {Anti-Bacterial} {Gram-Negative}},
month = jun,
note = {{PMID:} 17306965},
number = 6,
pages = {630--6},
shorttitle = {Pandrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria},
timestamp = {2011-03-11T10:05:39.000+0100},
title = {Pandrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria: the dawn of the post-antibiotic era?},
url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17306965},
volume = 29,
year = 2007
}