Jing-Sheng Lim - School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
Yoke-Yen Chai - School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
Wei-Xin Ser - School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
Aniqah Van Haeren - School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
Yan-Hong Lim - School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
Tarshiiny Raja - School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
Jhi-Biau Foo - School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
Sharina Hamzah - School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
Renukha Sellappans - School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
Hui Yin Yow - School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, Malaysia

Antibiotic resistance is fast spreading globally, leading to treatment failures and adverse clinical outcomes. This review focuses on the resistance mechanisms of the top five threatening pathogens identified by the World Health Organization’s global priority pathogens list: carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, carbapenem-resistant, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium and methicillin, vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Several novel drug candidates have shown promising results from in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as clinical trials. The novel drugs against carbapenem-resistant bacteria include LCB۱۰-۰۲۰۰, apramycin, and eravacycline, while for Enterobacteriaceae, the drug candidates are LysSAP-۲۶, DDS-۰۴, SPR-۲۰۶, nitroxoline, cefiderocol, and plazomicin. TNP-۲۰۹, KBP-۷۰۷۲, and CRS۳۱۲۳ are agents against E. faecium, while Debio ۱۴۵۰, gepotidacin, delafloxacin, and dalbavancin are drugs against antibiotic-resistant S. aureus. In addition to these identified drug candidates, continued in vitro and in vivo studies are required to investigate small molecules with potential antibacterial effects screened by computational receptor docking. As drug discovery progresses, preclinical and clinical studies should also be extensively conducted on the currently available therapeutic agents to unravel their potential antibacterial effect and spectrum of activity, as well as safety and efficacy profiles.

Antibacterial agents, Antibacterial drug resistance, Antibiotic resistance, Antimicrobial agent, Drug discovery, Microbial, Pharmacology