This invention relates to the use of zinc(II) salts in combination with a zinc ionophore to resensitize a previously resistant pathogenic bacteria to an antibiotic. Methods of restoring the sensitivity of a resistant pathogenic bacterium to an antibiotic comprising administering a zinc ionophore in combination with a zinc(II) salt and methods of treating a bacterial infection comprising administering a zinc ionophore in combination with a zinc (II) salt concurrently and/or sequentially with administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an antibiotic is also described.
