Gold-based antibiotics against drug-resistant bacteria: Sara Soto González, ECCMID 2023

With drug-resistant bacteria classified as an increasing threat globally by the WHO, there is an increasing need for the development of new antibiotics. Nineteen gold-based antibiotics were recently studied against a range of multidrug-resistant bacteria. In this interview, Dr. Sara Soto González (University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain) discusses the rationale for investigating gold(III) metalloantibiotics in this indication, the methodology of her study and the potential of gold complexes as an inexpensive and modifiable compound.

The abstract ‘Antimicrobial activity of newly synthesized gold(III) complexes against multidrug-resistant pathogens.’ (Abstract number: P2174) was presented at ECCMID 2023, 15-18 April, 2023, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Questions

1. What is the current threat of antibiotic resistance to healthcare globally? (0:17)
2. Could you give us a brief overview of the World Health Organisation’s list of antibiotic-resistant ‘priority pathogens’? (1:09)
3. What is the rationale for investigating gold(III) metalloantibiotics against drug-resistant bacteria? (2:25)
4. What was the methodology of your study investigating nineteen gold(III) complexes? (3:25)
5. What potential do gold(III) metalloantibiotics have as an inexpensive and modifiable compound against multidrug-resistant bacteria? (4:23)

Disclosures: Sara Soto González has nothing to disclose in relation to this video interview.

Support: Interview and filming supported by Touch Medical Media Ltd. Interview conducted by Katey Gabrysch and Victoria Jones.

Filmed in coverage of the 33rd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases.

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