Opportunistic etiological agents causing lung infections: emerging need to transform lung-targeted delivery

Abstract

Lung diseases continue to draw considerable attention from biomedical and public health care agencies. The lung with the largest epithelial surface area is continuously exposed to the external environment during exchanging gas. Therefore, the chances of respiratory disorders and lung infections are overgrowing. This review has covered promising and opportunistic etiologic agents responsible for lung infections. These pathogens infect the lungs either directly or indirectly. However, it is difficult to intervene in lung diseases using available oral or parenteral antimicrobial formulations. Many pieces of research have been done in the last two decades to improve inhalable antimicrobial formulations. However, very few have been approved for human use. This review article discusses the approved inhalable antimicrobial agents (AMAs) and identifies why pulmonary delivery is explored. Additionally, the basic anatomy of the respiratory system linked with barriers to AMA delivery has been discussed here. This review opens several new scopes for researchers to work on pulmonary medicines for specific diseases and bring more respiratory medication to market.

Graphical abstract

Highlights

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  Targeting lungs through oral administration of AMAs is a big challenge.

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  Lung infection etiological agents are considerably higher than the effective pulmonary treatment available.

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  Many potential barriers are responsible for ineffective delivery of AMAs through pulmonary administration.

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  Extensive research is needed to bring more drugs to the market for pulmonary administration.

Abstract

Etiological agents, Antimicrobial agents, Infection, Lung, Pulmonary delivery, Barrier, Inhalable drug.