Multi-drug-resistant S. aureus(MDR-S. aureus) is a major clinical concern due to its resistance to multiple antibiotic classes, driven in part by the upregulation of efflux pumps such as NorA, NorB, and AbcA. These pumps reduce intracellular antibiotic concentrations, leading to treatment failure and the need for higher drug dosages

This invention demonstrates the novel repurposing of two FDA-approved antifungal agents, Sertaconazole and Oxiconazole, as Efflux Pump Inhibitors (EPIs) to enhance the antibacterial activity of frontline antibiotics against MDR-S. aureus. These drugs were found to effectively inhibit major bacterial efflux pumps such as norA, norB, and abcA, which are known to reduce intracellular antibiotic concentrations and contribute to resistance