Worldwide Antimicrobial Pipeline and Development

Pp: 298-341 (44)

* (Excluding Mailing and Handling)

Abstract

Antimicrobials are a cornerstone of the medical armamentarium due to the increased prevalence of infectious diseases, particularly those caused by drug-resistant pathogens. As organisms that infect humans become smarter through the development of different resistance mechanisms to some of the currently available antimicrobials, the development of new agents with novel mechanisms of action becomes imperative. Many antimicrobials, including antibacterials, antifungals, and antiparasitics, have recently been approved for clinical use or are currently at some stage in the pipeline. This chapter provides a brief description of these antimicrobials with regards to their mechanisms of action, spectra of activity, indications, and pharmaceutical formulations and describes whether they were recently approved or are currently under development or in clinical trials. The wise use of these antimicrobials is essential to maintain their effectiveness for more tenacious infections.

Keywords: Antibacterial, Antibiotic, Antifungal, Antimicrobial, Antiparasitic, Antiprotozoal, β-lactamase, Development, Novel, Pipeline, Resistance, Trials.