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Scientists have developed a new antibiotic to fight resistant bacteria
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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Drug resistance often develops in people who stop taking antibiotics on their own when their condition improves. Some bacteria may not die, but the antibiotic attack remains in the cells' memory, and next time the bacteria will be "prepared" and the antibiotics will be much less effective.
Scientists have developed a new antibacterial drug, oritavancin, which works longer. As a result of the studies, scientists have found that the drug is effective in combating fairly resistant staphylococci and has shown good results with a standard ten-day course of treatment.
Oritavancin was tested for three years, involving about two thousand people. The drug was also tested on patients with persistent skin infections caused by staphylococci. Scientists also created a control group in which patients (about 500 people) took vancomycin. As a result, specialists noted significant improvements in the group taking the new drug, the patients' skin became less ulcerated and their general condition improved (the fever disappeared).
In terms of treatment and reduction of the affected area, the two agents used in the experiment had similar results. Oritavancin and vancomycin reduced ulceration by 20% or more at the beginning of therapy (the first 2-3 days).
Scientists learned that oritavancin is capable of destroying staphylococcal bacteria back in 2007, at about the same time that specialists noted the high effectiveness of linezolid (an antibacterial agent in comparison with vancomycin).
Studies conducted in 2011 have proven the clinical effectiveness of linezolid in the treatment of staph infections. However, some experts note that before treatment, it is necessary to conduct a genetic analysis of the pathogen, which will help determine how acute the infection will develop in each specific case.
The ability of bacteria to form a resistant film significantly complicates treatment. This ability of pathogenic microorganisms leads to the fact that in 2/3 of cases a person develops an infection. When bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, the situation becomes critical.
In Britain, specialists have found a molecule that is capable of disrupting the integrity of bacterial films, including resistant ones.
The molecule found is peptide 1018, which contains twelve amino acids that have a destructive effect on the film and block the process of its formation.
Pathogenic microorganisms are divided into gram-positive and gram-negative depending on their structure. Different types of bacteria are sensitive to different antibacterial drugs.
In the course of numerous studies, it was established that peptide 1018 has a destructive effect on both types of bacteria, in addition, the peptide effectively fought staphylococcus, intestinal and pseudomonas aeruginosa. As a result, experts concluded that peptide 1018 is capable of replacing antibacterial drugs, which are rapidly losing their effectiveness today. However, there is no talk yet about creating drugs based on the peptide, but scientists hope to find similar molecules.