Multiantimicrobial

Multiantimicrobial refers to strategies, therapies, and products that employ multiple antimicrobial agents or modalities to prevent or treat microbial infections. The term encompasses both pharmacologic approaches that combine drugs and nonpharmacologic systems that integrate several antimicrobial mechanisms.

In pharmacology, multiantimicrobial approaches include drug combinations designed to broaden activity, achieve synergistic effects, or reduce resistance by targeting different bacterial, fungal, or viral pathways. In materials science, multiantimicrobial systems combine several mechanisms—such as chemical biocides, metal ions, enzymes, or physical disruption—to prevent colonization and biofilm formation on surfaces, including medical devices and industrial equipment.

Benefits of multiantimicrobial strategies include expanded spectrum of activity, potential synergy allowing lower doses, and a reduced likelihood of resistance when pathogens face multiple targets. Risks and challenges include drug–drug interactions, increased toxicity, possible antagonism between components, and regulatory complexity for combination products. Evaluation of multiantimicrobial combinations and systems commonly uses methods such as checkerboard assays, time-kill studies, and biofilm models to assess synergy, additivity, or antagonism.

Applications span clinical medicine for difficult-to-treat infections, public health, agriculture, and industrial settings where antimicrobial coatings and materials are used to control contamination. Ongoing research seeks to optimize combinations and formulations, understand resistance dynamics, and develop guidance for safety, efficacy, and environmental impact. Regulatory pathways for multiantimicrobial products typically require evidence of added benefit, compatibility, and comprehensive risk assessment.