Reversion of antibiotic resistance in multidrug-resistant pathogens using non-antibiotic pharmaceutical benzydamine

Abstract

Liu et al. describe the antibiotic adjuvant effect of the FDA approved drug, benzydamine, for the treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria. Mechanistically, benzydamine dissipates membrane potential in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, upregulates the transmembrane proton gradient and promotes the uptake of tetracyclines, accounting for its bactericidal activity.