Novel Antimicrobial Strategies to Combat Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) Gram-Negative Bacteria

Dear Colleagues,

Infections and mortality caused by Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) are increasing all over the world. Moreover, these types of infections are becoming increasingly more difficult to treat, given the concurrent increase in the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Further compounding this problem is that GNB have a tendency to become resistant to multiple drug classes and are referred to as multidrug-resistant (MDR) GNB, which often leaves physicians with few or no treatment options. GNB possess a plethora of resistance strategies, either intrinsic or acquired, to avoid antibiotic-mediated cell death. Resistance genes and determinants rapidly spread among bacterial populations, which contributes to the rapid emergence MDR strains. Intrinsically, the main weapon of GNB is their cell wall, specifically the outer membrane, which serves as an excellent permeability barrier to drugs and environmental insults. Bacteria can also acquire or evolve resistance to common skin antiseptics and disinfectants, which could contribute to hospital outbreaks of MDR bacteria. Novel strategies to treat and limit the spread of drug-resistant GNB are imperative, and will serve as the primary focus of this Special Issue. This research topic focuses on studies (including original research, methods, perspectives, reviews, and commentaries) that explore and discuss:

1. New insights into the mechanisms of antibiotic or antiseptic resistance
2. Determination of novel combinations of drugs to eliminate MDR bacteria
3. Discovery of novel drug targets for antibiotic development
4. Evaluation of disinfection practices
5. Evaluation of the effectiveness of new antibiotics on MDR bacteria
6. Emergence of new resistance determinants in hospital populations

Dr. Valerie Carabetta
Guest Editor

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