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VOLUME 13 , ISSUE 2 ( June, 2009 ) > List of Articles

REVIEW ARTICLE

Colistin and polymyxin B: A re-emergence

Ashima Malhotra, Prem N. Kakar, Deep Arora, Shibani Das, Pradeep Govil

Keywords : Multidrug-resistant organisms, polymyxins

Citation Information : Malhotra A, Kakar PN, Arora D, Das S, Govil P. Colistin and polymyxin B: A re-emergence. Indian J Crit Care Med 2009; 13 (2):49-53.

DOI: 10.4103/0972-5229.56048

License: CC BY-ND 3.0

Published Online: 01-07-2012

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2009; The Author(s).


Abstract

One of the greatest achievements of modern medicine is the development of antibiotics against life-threatening infections, but the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram negative bacteria has drastically narrowed down the therapeutic options against them. This limitation has led clinicians to reappraise the clinical application of polymyxins, an old class of cationic, cyclic polypeptide antibiotics. Polymyxins are active against selected gram-negative bacteria, including the Acinetobacter species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella species, and Enterobacter species. In this article, we summarise the chemistry, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of polymyxins and the latest understanding of their action against MDR pathogens.


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