Polymyxins are a group of antibiotics that violate the cytoplasmic membrane and have a narrow spectrum of activity against gram-negative flora. In chemical composition, these are complex organic compounds based on a polypeptide. Natural producer: Bacillus polymyxa and some others. The main clinical significance is the activity of polymyxins against P. aeruginosa . By chemical nature, these are polyene compounds, including the remains of polypeptides . In usual doses, drugs of this group act bacteriostatically, in high concentrations they have a bactericidal effect.
Of the drugs, polymyxin B and polymyxin M are mainly used. They have pronounced nephro- and neurotoxicity.
In November 2015, there were reports of the discovery of the plasmid MCR-1 containing the gene for resistance to Polymyxin E ( Colistin ) [1] .
Notes
- ↑ Resistance to the last group of antibiotics has begun to spread . N + 1 (Nov 19, 2015).