Use of Newer and Repurposed Antibiotics against Gram-Negative Bacteria in Neonates
Angeliki Kontou,
Maria Kourti,
Elias Iosifidis,
Kosmas Sarafidis,
Emmanuel Roilides
Affiliations
Angeliki Kontou
1st Department of Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki 54642, Greece
Maria Kourti
Infectious Diseases Unit, 3rd Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki 54642, Greece
Elias Iosifidis
Infectious Diseases Unit, 3rd Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki 54642, Greece
Kosmas Sarafidis
1st Department of Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki 54642, Greece
Emmanuel Roilides
Infectious Diseases Unit, 3rd Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki 54642, Greece
Antimicrobial resistance has become a significant public health problem globally with multidrug resistant Gram negative (MDR-GN) bacteria being the main representatives. The emergence of these pathogens in neonatal settings threatens the well-being of the vulnerable neonatal population given the dearth of safe and effective therapeutic options. Evidence from studies mainly in adults is now available for several novel antimicrobial compounds, such as new β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors (e.g., ceftazidime–avibactam, meropenem–vaborbactam, imipenem/cilastatin–relebactam), although old antibiotics such as colistin, tigecycline, and fosfomycin are also encompassed in the fight against MDR-GN infections that remain challenging. Data in the neonatal population are scarce, with few clinical trials enrolling neonates for the evaluation of the efficacy, safety, and dosing of new antibiotics, while the majority of old antibiotics are used off-label. In this article we review data about some novel and old antibiotics that are active against MDR-GN bacteria causing sepsis and are of interest to be used in the neonatal population.