Researchers highlight method for reducing antibiotic resistance

Researchers from University College Dublin (UCD) have highlighted a new technique in the tackling of antibiotic-resistant infections.

Using a system known as resuscitating, antibiotics can be effectively used in some cases against resistant microbes when combined with additional compounds.

Tests were carried out on strains of Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Enterobacter and Staphylococcus using a common antibiotic combined with a number of adjuvant compounds, with the results showing up to a sixfold increase in efficacy for the drug.

Dr Marta Martins from the UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science commented: "There are very few new antibacterial drugs coming onto the market so it is vital that we find ways to extend the use of existing antibiotics as much as possible."

She added that antimicrobial infection is a growing problem for physicians and is threatening to make many infections impossible to treat.

The news follows an announcement by Future Science Group that its March edition of the journal Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy will have a specific focus on immunomodulation and infection.