New strategies against Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: a serious worldwide intrinsically drug-resistant opportunistic pathogen

Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2014 Jan;12(1):1-4. doi: 10.1586/14787210.2014.864553. Epub 2013 Dec 4.

Abstract

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a worldwide human opportunistic pathogen associated with serious infections in humans, and is most often recovered from respiratory tract infections. In addition to its intrinsic drug resistance, this organism may acquire resistance via multiple molecular mechanisms. New antimicrobial strategies are needed to combat S. maltophilia infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients, cystic fibrosis patients with polymicrobial infections of the lung, and in patients with chronic infections. This editorial reports on newer drugs and antimicrobial strategies and their potential for use in treatment of S. maltophilia infections, the development of new technologies to detect this organism, and identifies strategies currently in use to reduce transmission of this pathogen.

Publication types

  • Editorial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial*
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / diagnosis
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Opportunistic Infections / drug therapy*
  • Opportunistic Infections / microbiology
  • Stenotrophomonas maltophilia / drug effects*
  • Stenotrophomonas maltophilia / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents