Surviving sepsis in the era of antibiotic resistance: Are there any alternative approaches to antibiotic therapy?

• Published in: Microbial pathogenesis Vol. 80; pp. 7 - 13
• Main Authors: Uppu, Divakara S.S.M., Ghosh, Chandradhish, Haldar, Jayanta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2015
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Antibiotics; Antimicrobial peptides; Bacteremia - drug therapy; Bacteremia - microbiology; Biological Products - therapeutic use; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Immunologic Factors - therapeutic use; Sepsis; TNF-α; Sepsis; Antibiotics; TNF-α; Antimicrobial peptides
• ISSN: 0882-4010; 1096-1208
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2015.02.001

Sepsis, a serious cause of morbidity in humans, has no proper single medication dedicated to it. In this review, we look at the current treatment modalities, the different approaches attempted towards treating it and alternative approaches that could be implemented to counter this neglected disease condition. The use of antibiotics towards treatment of sepsis, use of combinations and strategies derived from natural antimicrobial peptides have been dealt in detail. The social and technical difficulties associated with treating sepsis and the possible ways of combating them have also been discussed. [Display omitted] •Sepsis is a neglected disease and causes more deaths than some of the major diseases.•Although antibiotics ideally should curb sepsis, some of them aggravate the condition.•Rampant resistance to antibiotics has made search for alternative strategies imperative.•Alternative strategies include the use of natural AMPs and their mimics alone or in combination with other antibiotics.