Bacterial infections are caused by many different micro-organisms. Many agents have been developed to treat bacterial infections, but resistance to them is a major problem. The pharmaceutical industry is working to develop new kinds of antibiotics. By staying one step ahead fewer people will die from infection.
Disease: Bacterial infections
Last update: June 2008
Intro
FAQ
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What are they?
Bacteria are microscopic organisms. There are many different types. Most are harmless, but a minority, called pathogens, cause infections. These may be on the skin - resulting in boils or abscesses - or in internal organs, resulting in serious and life-threatening infections. -
Who gets them?
Everyone! Fortunately, some heal by themselves. However, people whose immunity is depressed, such as cancer patients and transplant patients, are at greater risk of serious infection. As more of these patients are treated, the number of hospital-acquired infections - following surgery or intensive care treatment - is increasing. -
What can be done about them?
A range of agents have been developed over the last fifty years. However, resistance to these agents from, for example, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococci and tuberculosis, is causing widespread concern.
In an attempt to keep ahead of the resistant organisms, a variety of antibiotics have been introduced in recent years. These include a variety of compounds that kill a wide range of bacteria, an agent for skin and soft tissue infections and a novel broad-spectrum antibiotic. Also, a new class of compounds has recently been introduced in Europe. -
What does the future hold?
New antibiotics belonging to a variety of different classes are in advanced clinical development.
An exciting research advance is the possibility of effective treatments for severe infections or sepsis. One such agent is a man-made version of a naturally occurring protein which reduces the inflammation and blood clotting associated with sepsis. A variety of other compounds, including antibodies and substances affecting different parts of the coagulation process, are also in development.
In the longer term, the sequencing of the genes of common pathogens may allow the identification of resistance genes and offer new ways of treating bacterial infection.