Pharmaceutical Care in the Use of Colistin in Patients with Multidrug-resistant Infections

Abstract

The escalating prevalence of multidrug-resistant infections in hospitals underscores the urgent need for effective therapeutic interventions and pharmaceutical care. This study explores the potential of combination therapies, such as those with clofoctol and other antibiotics, as potential strategies to combat colistin resistance, safeguard colistin's efficacy, and avert resistance emergence. These combinations have shown synergistic effects against colistin-resistant Gram-negative lung pathogens, bolstering the development of novel formulations for challenging airway infections. Colistin-based combinations with vancomycin, aztreonam, and imipenem also exhibit synergistic activities against resistant strains, offering a promising treatment approach. Hence, when combined at subinhibitory concentrations, colistin and other antibiotics effectively eliminate strains and prevent colistin-dependence development [13, 14, 24]. The role of pharmaceutical interventions in optimizing colistin therapy by combining it with other antibiotics, potentially inhibiting colistin dependence and enhancing therapeutic efficacy, cannot be overstated. Pharmaceutical care is pivotal in navigating these advancements and challenges, ensuring prudent use of colistin and other antibiotics to optimize treatment regimens, minimize adverse effects, and mitigate resistance. This comprehensive approach encompasses patient-centered interventions, medication management, education, and support for treating MDR infections.