Molecular Basis for Antibiotic Resistance in the Genus Burkholderia
Silvia Bazzini, Silvia Buroni, Claudia Udine, Maria Rosalia Pasca and Giovanna Riccardi
from: Burkholderia: From Genomes to Function (Edited by: Tom Coenye and Eshwar Mahenthiralingam). Caister Academic Press, U.K. (2014)
Abstract
Bacteria belonging to the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc), as well as other Burkholderia spp. such as Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei are able to cause infections in humans. Their eradication is difficult due to the high level of intrinsic resistance to several antibiotics, but the efficacy of the antibiotic treatment would likely benefit from a better knowledge on the drug resistance mechanisms. Different resistant mechanisms have been identified in these bacteria, including alteration of drug target site, enzymatic drug inactivation or modification, reduced membrane permeability, and/or activation of efflux systems. To circumvent these mechanisms, a wide range of antimicrobial compounds have been tested and new ones are being discovered in order to improve the clinical approach. Among current therapies, tobramycin, ciprofloxacin, or meropenem/ceftazidime in combination with chloramphenicol, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or aztreonam are mostly recommended read more ...
