Agents of Last Resort: An Update on Polymyxin Resistance

Abstract

Polymyxin resistance is a major public health threat, because the polymyxins represent last-line therapeutics for gram-negative pathogens resistant to essentially all other antibiotics. Minimizing any potential emergence and dissemination of polymyxin resistance relies on an improved understanding of mechanisms of and risk factors for polymyxin resistance, infection prevention and stewardship strategies, together with optimization of dosing of polymyxins (eg, combination regimens).

Keywords: Bacterial stewardship; Gram-negative pathogens; Infection prevention; Polymyxin resistance; Risk factors.