Abstract

The escalating emergence and prevalence of infections caused by multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogenic bacteria accentuate the crucial need to develop novel and effectual therapeutic strategies to control this threat. The recent past surprisingly indicates a staggering decline in effective strategies against MDR. Different approaches have been employed to minimize the effect of resistance, but the question still lingers over the astounding number of drugs already tried and tested. Furthermore, the detection of new drug targets and the action of new antibacterial agents against already existing drug targets also complicate the condition. Antibiotic adjuvants are considered as one such promising approach for overcoming bacterial resistance. Adjuvants can potentiate the action of generally adopted antibacterial drugs against MDR bacterial pathogens either by minimizing the impact and emergence of resistance or improving the action of antibacterial drugs. This review provides an overview of the mechanism of antibiotic resistance, the main types of adjuvants and their mode of action, achievements and progression.

Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance, antibiotic adjuvants, β-Lactamase inhibitors, efflux pump inhibitors, membrane permeabilizers, adjuvant targets.

Graphical Abstract