Antimicrobial Peptides: A Potential Therapeutic Option for Surgical Site Infections

Abstract

Surgical Site Infections (SSI) represents one of the most common hospital-associated infections worldwide, and many cases of SSI are due to multidrug-resistant bacteria with the propensity to attach to tissues and form biofilm on post-surgical sites. While systemic antibiotic treatment (prophylactically and therapeutically) is usually effective, SSI can be difficult to treat when associated with drug resistance. Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) are an untapped resource that could serve as an effective therapeutic option, as they display broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity regardless of antibiotic resistance. In the last decade, it has become increasingly clear that AMPs also display antibiofilm properties. We reviewed herein the potential of AMPs as promising therapeutics for SSI and the need for structural optimization to develop AMPs for clinical applications.