The present invention relates to adamantane derivatives that are active as antiviral and anti-microbial agents antiviral or antibacterial compositions comprising adamantane derivatives or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and methods of preventing or treating viral or bacterial infections in mammalian hosts through the administration of adamantine derivatives or their salts or pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same. In particular, viral infections prevented or treated by the methods of the present invention may include, but are not limited to, those caused by arenavirus or one or more pox viruses, such as vaccinia and/or variola.
