Intravenous modalities in the treatment of bloodborne pathogen illnesses: antibiotics, antifungals, and antivirals.

A variety of intravenous antimicrobial agents are used to treat infections with bloodborne pathogens. In using these agents to manage our patients, as well as any accidental employee exposure, it is important to understand how these agents work, and in which settings they are appropriate. This article will briefly review the historic development of antimicrobial agents and examine the agents according to the five basic mechanisms of action. Resistance to antimicrobial agents also will be discussed, as will the clinical and other factors that can positively or negatively affect the outcome of therapy.