Lancellotti P, et al. - Investigators assessed patients with acute coronary syndrome to compare the results of those treated with ticagrelor (AZD6140) and clopidogrel and concluded that patients treated with ticagrelor had a lower risk of infection leading to death vs clopidogrel bisulfate. Investigators assessed the bactericidal activity of ticagrelor against antibiotic-resistant gram-positive bacteria which can be hazardous to human health. Antibacterial activity at infection sites can be achieved through local, possibly platelet-driven, drug accumulation, as bacterial concentrations are not reached systemically in patients receiving typical dosages for treating cardiovascular disease. For a decrease in infection-related death with ticagrelor seen in the PLATO trial, researchers gave a mechanistic explanation and explained the improvement in lung function in pneumonia subjects treated with ticagrelor.