New agents for Gram-positive bacteria

Infections caused by multiple-resistant Gram-positive organisms continue to occur at an alarming rate worldwide. Two new and unique antimicrobial agen ts targeted specifically against such organisms, quinupristin/dalfopristin and linezolid, have been approved for use in the USA in the past year and w ill play an important role in the treatment of life-threatening infections. In addition, several new fluoroquinolones have been approved recently or w ill be available in the near future to aid in the treatment of infections c aused by resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae.