Predicting antibiotic resistance

Nat Rev Microbiol. 2007 Dec;5(12):958-65. doi: 10.1038/nrmicro1796.

Abstract

The treatment of bacterial infections is increasingly complicated because microorganisms can develop resistance to antimicrobial agents. This article discusses the information that is required to predict when antibiotic resistance is likely to emerge in a bacterial population. Indeed, the development of the conceptual and methodological tools required for this type of prediction represents an important goal for microbiological research. To this end, we propose the establishment of methodological guidelines that will allow researchers to predict the emergence of resistance to a new antibiotic before its clinical introduction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Bacteria / genetics*
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology*
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Forecasting / methods*
  • Humans

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents