Antibiotic resistance: how it arises, the current position and strategies for the future.

After 70 years of antibiotic therapy, the threat of untreatable infections is again a reality with resistance to antibiotics increasing in both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria cause both community and healthcare associated infections, presenting challenges in treatment and management. The development of new and novel antibiotics, particularly for Gram negative bacteria, is worryingly lacking. This article reviews the current situation and examines future strategies to tackle the continued threat of bacterial resistance.