Improper antimicrobial practices expedite the evolution of antibiotic-resistant and super-drug-resistant bacteria, and result in varied and elevated antibiotic resistance throughout the world. The dominant problem with antibiotic therapy is the antibiotic resistance acquisition in bacteria. Therefore, it is important to use non-antibiotic agents which could prevent the microbial propagation and control their virulence. The agents like probiotics, phytochemicals and bacteriophages have been found to tackle drug-resistant bacteria. The application of probiotics in medicines, agriculture and food industry is becoming influential to contain drug-resistant and virulent bacteria. The probiotic bacteria (Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria, etc.) directly and indirectly by their products (bacteriocins, organic acids, short-chain fatty acids, polysaccharides, etc.) can counter or evade the entero-virulent, pathogenic and drug-resistant bacteria such as Salmonella typhi, Clostridium difficile, MRSA, Carbapenem-resistant representatives of enterobacteriaceae, H. pylori, E. coli O157:H7, etc. Intestinal probiotic bacteria (Lactobacilli) can also help to reduce diarrhoea, post-antibiotic therapy complications and inflammatory bowel disease. Phytochemicals offer strong antimicrobial action against virulent and resistant bacteria. These substances unaccompanied or accompanied with antibiotics can enhance antibacterial effect. Several plant procured compounds (Alkaloids, Phenolics, Cumarins, Terpenes and Sulphur-compounds) have been observed to carry antimicrobial effects with a vast variety of mechanisms. Bacteriophages and the related enzymes (endolysins and virion-associated peptidoglycan hydrolases) having antimicrobial effect are also considered as therapeutic candidates to encounter drug-resistant bugs. Based on the literature review, probiotics, plant procured compounds and phages in solo or in combo with antibiotics can be the favourable and valuable therapeutic options.
