The antibacterial activity of fatty acids (FA) is well known in the literature and represents a promising option for developing the next-generation of antibacterial agents to treat a broad spectrum of bacterial infections. FA are highly involved in living organisms' defense system against numerous pathogens, including multidrug-resistant bacteria. When combined with other antibacterial agents, the remarkable ability of FA to enhance their bactericidal properties is a critical feature that is not commonly observed in other naturally-occurring compounds. More reviews focusing on FA antibacterial activity, traditional and non-traditional mechanisms and biomedical applications are needed. This review is intended to update the reader on the antibacterial properties of recent FA and how their chemical structures influence their antibacterial activity. This review also aims to better understand both traditional and non-traditional mechanisms involved in these recently explored FA antibacterial activities.

脂肪酸 (FA) 的抗菌活性在文献中是众所周知的，它代表了开发下一代抗菌剂以治疗广谱细菌感染的有希望的选择。FA 高度参与生物体对多种病原体的防御系统，包括耐多药细菌。当与其他抗菌剂结合使用时，FA 增强其杀菌性能的显着能力是其他天然化合物中不常见的关键特征。需要更多关注 FA 抗菌活性、传统和非传统机制以及生物医学应用的评论。这篇综述旨在让读者了解最近 FA 的抗菌特性以及它们的化学结构如何影响它们的抗菌活性。本综述还旨在更好地了解这些最近探索的 FA 抗菌活性中涉及的传统和非传统机制。