[Comment] Unavailability of old antibiotics threatens effective treatment for common bacterial infections

In addition to the insufficient pipeline of new antibiotics, the unsustainable production and supply of old antibiotics is becoming a serious global problem that limits the treatment options for common bacterial infections. Most infections are still caused by pathogens susceptible to generic antibiotics, which are often preferred to newer antibiotics because of lower risks for toxicity and resistance development.1 Although data for the manufacturing and distribution of antibiotics are not publicly available, reports on limited availability, shortages, and price increases of old antibiotics suggest that the current system is too fragile to provide —what should be fundamental in modern medicine—access to effective treatment for common and potentially severe bacterial infections.

Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - February 22, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Thomas T ängdén, Céline Pulcini, Helle Aagard, Manica Balasegaram, Gabriel Levy Hara, Dilip Nathwani, Mike Sharland, Ursula Theuretzbacher, Otto Cars Tags: Comment Source Type: research