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Antibiotic research, development always needed to find 'magic bullet'

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ATLANTA — Due to the development of bacterial resistance, there will always be a need for antibiotic research and development to find the "magic bullet," a researcher here said.

The leading candidates for future antivirals against herpes simplex virus and adenovirus include ganciclovir, CTC-96, NMSO3, N-chlorotaurine, nanovirus and the historical standard of cidofovir, Francis S. Mah said at Cornea Subspecialty Day preceding the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.

Staphylococcus aureus is a growing ophthalmic concern, Dr. Mah said. Fluoroquinolone is most often used for its broad spectrum and wide safety margin.

"Another recent addition to our armamentarium is levofloxacin 1.5%," which is currently indicated for corneal ulcer, and besifloxacin, which is currently under investigation, Dr. Mah said.

Potential additions include tygecycline, which is a synthetic monocycline derivative with broad-spectrum activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and oxazolidinone, a new class of synthetic antibiotic.

However, "The real future is genomics," Dr. Mah said.