Tag: Multidrug resistant bacteria

Discovered in the late 1940s, polymyxin B is a polypeptide antibiotic of the polymyxin class, a group of powerful agents used primarily against severe, multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections.

Historically, concerns over significant nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity led to the reduced use of polymyxin B sulfate. However, the increasing threat of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria has prompted its re-evaluation and reintroduction into clinical practice, with current research indicating a less severe toxicity profile under modern management.

While generic antibiotics like amoxicillin can cost as little as $10-$30 for a course, the cost of treating multidrug-resistant infections with newer agents can be astronomically higher, with some treatments costing thousands of dollars for a single course. Understanding what is the most expensive antibiotic medicine requires a closer look at the evolving landscape of drug resistance and pharmaceutical pricing.

Research suggests that metformin, a widely used diabetes drug, can inhibit the growth of certain bacteria in vitro and combat antibiotic resistance. While not a conventional antibiotic, the question remains: **does metformin have antibiotic properties**?

According to the World Health Organization, antibiotic resistance is one of the top three global threats to human health. In this context, polymyxins have re-emerged as crucial "last-line" antibiotics used to combat serious infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria when other drugs have failed.

Tigecycline, a first-in-class glycylcycline antibiotic, was developed to combat the rising threat of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. Approved in 2005, it is a crucial intravenous treatment reserved for serious infections when other antibiotics are ineffective or unsuitable.