To combat resistant bacteria, scientists have developed a new antibiotic
Last reviewed: 17.10.2021
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Resistance to drugs often develops in people who independently stop antibiotic treatment while improving their condition. Some bacteria may not die, but the cell memory remains an antibiotic attack and the next time the bacteria will be "prepared" and the effectiveness of antibiotics will be much less.
Scientists have developed a new antibacterial drug - oritavancin, which works longer. As a result of the studies, the scientists found out that the drug is effective in fighting staphylococci, which is quite resistant and showed good results with a standard ten-day course of treatment.
Testing of oritavancin was carried out for three years, in which about two thousand people took part. Also, the drug was tested on patients with a stable skin infection, provoked by staphylococci. The scientists also created a control group, in which patients (about 500 people) took vancomycin. As a result, experts noted significant improvements in the group taking the new drug, the skin in patients became less ulcerated and the general condition improved (fever disappeared).
In terms of treatment and reduction of the affected area, the two agents used in the experiment had similar results. Orotavancin 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 as early as 2007, at about the same time, experts noted the high effectiveness of linezolid (an antibacterial agent in comparison with vancomycin).
The studies conducted in 2011 proved the clinical effectiveness of linezolid in the treatment of infections caused by staphylococcus. However, some experts note that before the treatment it is necessary to carry out a genetic analysis of the pathogen, which will help to determine how acute the infection will develop in each specific case.
The ability of bacteria to form a stable film significantly complicates the treatment. This ability of pathogenic microorganisms leads to the fact that in 2/3 of cases a person develops an infection. With the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics, the situation becomes critical.
In Britain, experts have found a molecule that can break the integrity of a film of bacteria, in particular, and resistant.
The molecule found is peptide 1018, which contains twelve amino acids that act destructively on the film and block the process of its formation.
Pathogenic microorganisms are divided into gram-positive and gram-negative depending on the structure. Different types of bacteria have a sensitivity to different antibacterial drugs.
In the course of numerous studies it was established that peptide 1018 acts destructively on both types of bacteria, besides this the peptide effectively battled with staphylococcus, with intestinal and with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. As a result, experts concluded that peptide 1018 is able to replace antibacterial drugs, which today quickly lose effectiveness. But the creation of drugs based on the peptide is not mentioned, but scientists hope to find similar molecules.