Does the antimicrobial resistance pattern of cultured human methanogens reflect the unique phylogenetic position of archaea?
Human methanogenic archaea are highly resistant to antibiotics, being susceptible only to molecules that are also effective against both bacteria and eukarya. Methanogenic archaea are good candidates to test for antimicrobial activity against members of this unique domain of life. Further studies to develop new molecules specifically targeting archaea as potential causes of infection are warranted.
We suggest that simple ALN be regarded clinically as the progression of APN. By contrast, complicated ALN is a distinct, more severe disease entity, and it may relate to or progress to renal abscess. ALN is probably not the midpoint in the traditional dynamic spectrum of upper urinary tract infections between APN and renal abscess.