There's no single "world's strongest" antibiotic, but Carbapenems (like meropenem) and re-engineered drugs like Vancomycin 3.0 are top contenders for broad, potent action against superbugs, while newer discoveries like pre-methylenomycin C lactone and AI-found Halicin show immense promise by targeting bacteria in novel ways, often proving far more effective than older drugs. The strongest depends on the specific resistant bacteria, but modern research focuses on multi-pronged attacks to overcome resistance.
The carbapenems, imipenem and meropenem, are considered the most potent of any antibiotic class, and are for use in serious infections or when resistance compromises all other agents.
The new antibiotic EVG7, recently developed in Professor Nathaniel Martin's research group at the Institute of Biology Leiden (IBL), could change that. EVG7 is a stronger and more efficient version of the commonly used antibiotic vancomycin.
Researchers from the University of Warwick and Monash University have uncovered a powerful new antibiotic compound, pre-methylenomycin C lactone, hidden inside a known bacterial pathway. In lab tests, it proved over 100 times more potent than existing antibiotics against drug-resistant bacteria like MRSA and E.
There is not one type of antibiotic that cures every infection. Antibiotics specifically treat infections caused by bacteria, such as Staph., Strep., or E. coli., and either kill the bacteria (bactericidal) or keep it from reproducing and growing (bacteriostatic).
The key target molecules were members of the 'Big Four' classes of antibiotics (macrolides, aminoglycosides, β-lactams and tetracyclines), naphthoquinone antibiotics and their related antibiotics.
Sir Alexander Fleming FRS FRSE FRCS (6 August 1881 – 11 March 1955) was a Scottish physician and microbiologist, best known for discovering the world's first broadly effective antibiotic substance, which he named penicillin.
The 5 most over-prescribed antibiotics
Examples of broad-spectrum antibiotics
MRSA is one of the most common antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Symptoms of MRSA infection often begin as small red bumps on the skin that can progress to deep, painful abscesses or boils, which are pus-filled masses under the skin.
They discovered an intermediate compound — called premethylenomycin C lactone — whose antimicrobial activity was 100 times stronger than that of the final product. Tiny doses killed strains of bacteria known to cause hard-to-treat infections.
The cephalosporins are among the most expensive antibiotics in use today; thus, use of these expensive agents must be justified by lower toxicity, greater efficacy, or both in comparison with drugs of more reasonable cost.
A last-resort antibiotic is used to treat infections with bacteria that are resistant against the common antibiotics or, in cases of severe infections, where an effect must be ensured. Synonyms. Reserve antibiotic.
Vancomycin
Vancomycin is a tricyclic glycopeptide antibiotic that is highly effective against severe gram-positive bacterial infections, including those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). It is often used in hospitals to treat life-threatening infections.
The 'Big Three' - Most people diagnosed with NTM and who start treatment, take three antibiotics. These are usually azithromycin or clarithromycin, together with rifampicin or rifabutin, and ethambutol.
They refer to this phenomenon as the “90-60” rule, suggesting that 90% of susceptible results predict success, while 60% of resistant results still have successful treatment outcomes. Interestingly, this finding was not specific to any one antimicrobial, organism, or site of infection.
When bacteria become resistant, the original antibiotic can no longer kill them. These germs can grow and spread. They can cause infections that are hard to treat. Sometimes they can even spread the resistance to other bacteria that they meet.
These antibiotics may cause adverse reactions, some of which may be severe, and liver problems:
It has been estimated that over 500 million lives have now been saved by penicillin.
One in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections causing common infections in people worldwide in 2023 were resistant to antibiotic treatments, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report launched today.
In 1928, at St. Mary's Hospital, London, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin. This discovery led to the introduction of antibiotics that greatly reduced the number of deaths from infection.
Azithromycin Tablets. Azithromycin is an antibiotic medication that treats bacterial infections. It doesn't treat colds, the flu or viral infections. The brand name of this medication is Zithromax®.
Unlike cephalosporin antibiotics like cephalexin (Keflex), which are primarily used against Gram-positive bacteria, Cipro has broad-spectrum activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. This makes it more versatile but also increases the risk of developing resistance if used indiscriminately.
Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics such as amoxicillin, erythromycin and ciprofloxacin. There are many different types of antibiotic, with different ways of working; the choice depends on the type of infection you have.