Abstract: The invention relates to compounds which are active as drugs for stimulating the innate antimicrobial peptide system and can be used as antimicrobial drugs. Preferred targets are infections selected from infection of the lung, trachea, urinary tract or kidney, upper GI tract and\or blood. Preferred target pathogens are selected from: Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Pseudomonas bacteria; Haemophilus influenzae; Moraxella catarrhalis. “Preferred” compounds of the invention are. Preferred compounds include 4-phenylbutyric acid or a salt of 4-phenylbutyrate, such as sodium 4-phenylbutyrate, Butyric acid or a salt of butyrate, such as sodium butyrate, or glyceryl tributyrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds which are active as drugs for stimulating the innate antimicrobial peptide system and can be used as antimicrobial drugs. Preferred targets are infections selected from infection of the lung, trachea, urinary tract or kidney, upper GI tract and\or blood. Preferred target pathogens are selected from: Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Pseudomonas bacteria; Haemophilus influenzae; Moraxella catarrhalis. “Preferred” compounds of the invention are. Preferred compounds include 4-phenylbutyric acid or a salt of 4-phenylbutyrate, such as sodium 4-phenylbutyrate, Butyric acid or a salt of butyrate, such as sodium butyrate, or gyceryl tributyrate.