Year : 2019

Volume : Volume 10

Issue : Issue 3s

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Magesh Kumar S.
mageshskumar@gmail.com

Abstract

Background:  Rampant overuse and misuse of antibiotics has led to a global emergence of bacterial resistance to a plethora of antibiotics. This has thrown a challenge to mankind to devise novel strategies to combat and treat fatal infections which are resistant to these antibiotics. Various novel treatment strategies are being researched in this field. Photodynamic therapy is one such treatment option. Diversification of this Photodynamic Therapy has led to the search of commonly available antibiotics to substitute as photosensitizers. These Light-activated antibiotics can show increased potency at killing microorganisms without leading to bacterial resistance. This review will throw light on some of the commonly used antibiotics that have the potential to be activated by light to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are lethal to bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Keywords: Light-Activated Antibiotics, Photodynamic Therapy, Reactive oxygen species, Antimicrobial resistance.