Antibiotics: what's new?

Abstract

In addition to the traditional antibiotic choices for skin and skin structure infections, such as beta-lactams, macrolides, and clindamycin, newer broad-spectrum antibiotics are available to treat resistant pathogens that can cause severe infections. The pharmacologic profiles of 3 newer classes of these antibiotics are reviewed briefly, and the role of these agents in treating skin and skin structure infections is discussed.