The role of efflux in macrolide resistance.

Efflux is one of the major resistance mechanisms for macrolide antibiotics observed in both laboratory and clinical settings. This review summarizes the recent research on two major macrolide efflux pumps: Mef in Gram-positive organisms and Acr-AB-TolC in Haemophilus influenzae and Escherichia coli. The roles of pumps in macrolide resistance and the new advances / strategies to overcome efflux are discussed. Copyright 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.