2014/01/06 by Rok Čivljak, Maddalena Giannella, Stefano Di Bella +1 · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Medicine · #Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria #Antibiotic resistance #Antibiotics #Antibiotics Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy #Antimicrobial #Bacteria #Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing #Biology #Chloramphenicol #Colistin #Enterobacter #Enterococcus faecium #Escherichia coli #Klebsiella pneumoniae #Medicine #Microbiology #Pseudomonas aeruginosa
paper · doi:10.1586/14787210.2014.878647
openalex publication_date 2014/01/06 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
The widespread use of antibiotics has been associated with the emergence of antimicrobial resistance among bacteria. 'ESKAPE' (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acintobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter spp.) pathogens play a major role in the rapidly changing scenario of antimicrobial resistance in the 21st century. Chloramphenicol is a broad spectrum antibiotic that was abandoned in developed countries due to its association with fatal aplastic anemia. However, it is still widely used in the developing world. In light of the emerging problem of multi-drug resistant pathogens, its role should be reassessed. Our paper reviews in vitro data on the activity of chloramphenicol against ESKAPE pathogens. Susceptibility patterns for Gram-positives were good, although less favorable for Gram-negatives. However, in combination with colistin, chloramphenicol was found to have synergistic activity. The risk-benefit related to chloramphenicol toxicity has not been analyzed. Therefore, extra precautions should be taken when prescribing this agent.