Emerging antibacterial and antiviral drugs for treating respiratory tract infections

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Management of LRTI is becoming more frequently challenging since the emergence of multidrug resistance bacteria and the increase of severe viral infection, reducing the number of available effective drugs. The clinical evaluation of new therapeutic associations is mandatory to cope with the increases in resistance, in association with better infection control and antimicrobial policies.

Areas covered: We searched Pubmed in English language of phase I, II, III clinical trials and approved treatments for LRTI, between 2006 and 2016.

Expert opinion:Development of new molecules or new combinations regimens are very important for patients with severe infections and in specific subgroups of patients like CF and bronchiectatic patients. Standardized protocols for antibiotic stewardship in difficult-to-treat infections are the next step. Moreover, non-antibiotic treatments and preventive strategies as vaccination need to be part of clinical practice.

KEYWORDS:

• Lower-respiratory tract infections
• antibiotics
• Gram-positive
• Gram-negative
• cystic fibrosis

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties

Reviewer declaration of interest

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.