Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a worldwide threat to human health, because it is resistant to a large class of β-lactams (penicillins) and to second-generation penicillins, including methicillin. However, Gonzales et al. report that combining different classes and generations of these drugs could be effective in fighting MRSA. A 1:1:1 mix of three compounds a β-lactam, a carbapenem, and a β-lactamase inhibitor synergistically targeted bacterial cell wall synthesis and was bactericidal against 73 different clinical isolates of MRSA. The drug combination prevented MRSA from acquiring resistance to the mix and cleared infection in a mouse model of lethal MRSA. The finding opens the prospect of using already clinically approved drugs to treat multidrug resistant infections…
