The discovery of antibiotics marked a turning point in medical history, providing effective clinical treatment for bacterial infections for decades. Widely used antibiotics, including β-lactams, macrolides, aminoglycosides, and tetracyclines, have become common medications in households worldwide. Nevertheless, despite their life-saving impact, numerous unsolved challenges persist. Issues such as unclear action mechanisms, nonnegligible toxicity, adverse effects, and rising drug resistance limit the broader application of clinical antibiotics. As a result, ongoing research in chemical modification, antibacterial mechanisms, novel formulation development, and off-label applications of approved antibiotics remains critical to the field of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.

This special issue aims to offer a dedicated platform for recent advances in the study of clinically approved antibiotics. We invite researchers and clinicians to propose potential strategies and solutions to the real-world challenges encountered in antibiotic use. Key topics include designing next-generation antibiotics to counteract bacterial resistance, addressing drug toxicity (such as the well-known nephrotoxicity of colistin), and leveraging new technologies to identify previously unknown drug targets.

We welcome new discoveries, insights, and methods addressing these challenges. This special issue seeks contributions that represent the most current advancements in antibiotic research, including Original Research articles, Reviews, and Brief Research Reports. Please see the full list of accepted Article Types here.

The scope of this special issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:
• design of new compounds derived from approved antibiotics;
• novel antibacterial mechanisms proposed for approved antibiotics;
• new indications or unreported off-label usage of approved antibiotics;
• development of formulations of approved antibiotics for diverse routes of administration;
• combination strategies using approved antibiotics to combat pathogens;
• challenges in clinical use of antibiotics and potential solutions.

Contributions in clinical research and real-world studies on antibiotic use are especially encouraged.

Article types and fees

This Special Issue accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Special Issue description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Special Issue accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Special Issue description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: antibacterial drug, clinical application, mode of action, formulation, chemical modification, antibiotics abuse