Abstract
Multi-drug resistance is a growing problem in the treatment of infectious diseases and the widespread use of broad-spectrum antibiotics has produced antibiotic resistance for many human bacterial pathogens. Advances in nanotechnology have opened new horizons in nanomedicine, allowing the synthesis of nanoparticles that can be assembled into complex architectures. Novel studies and technologies are devoted to understanding the mechanisms of disease for the design of new drugs, but unfortunately infectious diseases continue to be a major health burden worldwide. Since ancient times, silver was known for its anti-bacterial effects and for centuries it has been used for prevention and control of disparate infections. Currently nanotechnology and nanomaterials are fully integrated in common applications and objects that we use every day. In addition, the silver nanoparticles are attracting much interest because of their potent antibacterial activity. Many studies have also shown an important activity of silver nanoparticles against bacterial biofilms. This review aims to summarize the emerging efforts to address current challenges and solutions in the treatment of infectious diseases, particularly the use of nanosilver antimicrobials.
Highlights
Increasing hospital and community-acquired infections due to bacterial multidrug-resistant (MDR)pathogens for which current antibiotic therapies are not effective represent a growing problem.Antimicrobial resistance is, one of the major threats to human health [1], since it determines an increase of morbidity and mortality as a consequence of the most common bacterial diseases [2].Resistance genes have recently emerged [3], favoured by improper use of antibiotics [4]; the first step in combating resistance envisions the reduction of antibiotic consumption [5]
Non-traditional antibacterial agents are of great interest to overcome resistance that develops from several pathogenic microorganisms against most of the commonly used antibiotics [4]
The combined effect of AgNPs and antibiotics was notably against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, K. pneumonia, Bacillus spp, and Micrococcus luteus. These results are in line with the findings reported by Birla et al [65] who registered increasing efficiency of antibiotics like vancomycin, gentamycin, streptomycin, ampicillin and kanamycin when used in combination with AgNPs against
Summary
Resistance genes have recently emerged [3], favoured by improper use of antibiotics [4]; the first step in combating resistance envisions the reduction of antibiotic consumption [5]. The emergence of resistance against newly developed antibiotics [7], further supports the need for innovation, monitoring of antibiotic consumption, prevention, diagnosis and rapid reduction in the misuse of these drugs. To address the problem of resistance, it will be necessary to change the protocols of use of antimicrobials so that these drugs are administered only when all other treatment options have failed [4]; and joint efforts of governments and academic networks are needed to fight against the globally spreading of multidrug resistant pathogens. Non-traditional antibacterial agents are of great interest to overcome resistance that develops from several pathogenic microorganisms against most of the commonly used antibiotics [4]
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