Antimicrobial sulfonamide drugs

Abstract

Sulfonamides are the first successfully synthesized antimicrobial drugs. The mechanism of sulfonamides antimicrobial action involves competitive inhibition of folic acid synthesis which prevents the growth and reproduction of microorganisms. Due to this mechanism of action, sulfonamides belong to the group of bacteriostatic agents. Although they have been applied in therapy for more than 70 years, sulfonamides are still the drugs of choice for the treatment of several conditions and diseases. A wider sulfonamides application in the therapy is limited by bacterial resistance and sulfonamides side effects. Antimicrobial sulfonamides and their metabolites are classified as persistent organic pollutants. For sulfonamides degradation and removal from the environment, various techniques can be applied such as different oxidation techniques, including chlorination and advanced oxidation processes, adsorption processes, membrane processes and combined processes.