Alternative strategies to reduce the incidence of severe infections

Aggressive biofilms, severe nosocomial infections incriminating various drug-resistant microorganisms, many times related to implants and medical instruments led to numerous studies meant to discover and perfect powerful strategies, principally to ensure their prevention and efficient therapy. Natural molecules of vegetal origin, synthetic organic and inorganic compounds, nanoparticles, and hybrid structures are intensely reviewed as the prospects are challenging. The scientific communities understood that often, ecological precepts involving natural products could be applied in drug and also material designs due to their undeniable advantages such as a lower toxicity and also the versatility and the undeniably wider applicability compared to the standard chemical treatments. Modulation of quorum sensing (QS) as a therapeutic target has emerged following the imperative need of novel treatment methods against biofilm-embedded and drug-resistant pathogens. In this field, outstanding results have been registered, but the use of QS inhibitors in clinical practice is still a challenge. Many types of organic and inorganic compounds used as pure solutions or after chemical modifications could be used in the prevention and treatment of various infections. Inorganic compounds, as anti-infectious agents, have the major advantage of a better plasticity as they are usually more stable than the organic bioactive substances. Nanomaterials also proved impressive results and offered innovative perspectives to improve antimicrobial therapy and prophylactic approaches.