THE POTENTIAL MANAGEMENT OF RESISTANT INFECTIONS WITH NON-ANTIBIOTICS

The antimicrobial activity of synthetic, non-chemotherapeutic compound s, such as the phenothiazine, methylene blue, has been known since the time of Ehrlich (1854-1915). In this context the term 'non-antibiotic s' is taken to include a variety of compounds which are employed in th e management of pathological conditions of a non-infectious aetiology, but which modify cell permeability and have been shown to exhibit bro ad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial properties of co mpounds such as phenothiazines, as well as those of other neurotropic compounds, have only been investigated sporadically, and their applica tion to management of microbial infections has not been evaluated. A r eview of the literature, coupled with a number of more recent investig ations, suggests that some of these and other membrane-active compound s enhance the activity of conventional antibiotics, eliminate natural resistance to specific antibiotics (reversal of resistance) and exhibi t strong activity against multi-drug resistant forms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Thus non-antibiotics may have a significant role in the management of certain bacterial infections.