Antimicrobial Pharmacology and the Global Challenge of Drug Resistance

This chapter presents a critical appraisal of antimicrobial drug classes, their mechanisms of action, and the molecular and phenotypic bases of resistance among bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens. It evaluates novel antimicrobial agents in development, resistance-breaking pharmacological strategies, and the role of pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic optimization in combating multidrug-resistant infections.