Medicines are supposed to help you heal. But some meds you take are putting you at greater risk. Yes, that’s right. And these medicines are very familiar to you. Paracetamol and ibuprofen. Yes, these common over-the-counter medicines are consumed by millions of people globally. These painkillers are, however, fueling one of the world’s biggest health threats: antibiotic resistance.New research from the University of South Australia found that common painkillers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol are not only driving antibiotic resistance when used individually but also amplifying it when used together. The findings of the first study of its kind are published in the journal npj Antimicrobials and Resistance. Painkillers linked to antibiotic resistance
The researcher explored the interaction of non-antibiotic medications, the broad-spectrum antibiotic ciprofloxacin, and Escherichia coli (E. coli), which is a common bacterium that causes gut and urinary tract infections. They found that common painkillers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol significantly increased bacterial mutations, making E. coli highly resistant to the antibiotic.The findings of this study are crucial as it has serious implications for health, especially for older adults in care homes, where multiple medications are regularly administered.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), antimicrobial resistance is a global threat to public health. In 2019, bacterial resistance was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths. What are experts saying
“Antibiotics have long been vital in treating infectious diseases, but their widespread overuse and misuse have driven a global rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This is especially prevalent in residential aged care facilities, where older people are more likely to be prescribed multiple medications – not just antibiotics, but also drugs for pain, sleep, or blood pressure – making it an ideal breeding ground for gut bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics,” Rietie Venter, the lead researcher, and UniSA’s Associate Professor said, in a statement. “In this study, we looked at the effect of non-antibiotic medicines and ciprofloxacin, an antibiotic which is used to treat common skin, gut, or urinary tract infections. When bacteria were exposed to ciprofloxacin alongside ibuprofen and paracetamol, they developed more genetic mutations than with the antibiotic alone, helping them grow faster and become highly resistant. Worryingly, the bacteria were not only resistant to the antibiotic ciprofloxacin, but increased resistance was also observed to multiple other antibiotics from different classes. We also uncovered the genetic mechanisms behind this resistance, with ibuprofen and paracetamol both activating the bacteria’s defences to expel antibiotics and render them less effective,” Assoc Prof Venter added.
The study
The researchers looked at nine different medications, which are commonly administered in residential aged care. These include ibuprofen (an anti-inflammatory pain relief), diclofenac (an anti-inflammatory to treat arthritis), acetaminophen (paracetamol for pain and fever), furosemide (for high blood pressure), metformin (for high sugar levels linked to diabetes), atorvastatin (to help lower cholesterol and fats in the blood), tramadol (a stronger pain medication post-surgery), temazepam (used to treat sleeping problems), and pseudoephedrine (a decongestant).Prof Venter emphasized that this study demonstrates how antibiotic resistance is a larger challenge than previously thought. “Antibiotic resistance isn’t just about antibiotics anymore. This study is a clear reminder that we need to carefully consider the risks of using multiple medications – particularly in aged care where residents are often prescribed a mix of long-term treatments,” Assoc Prof Venter says.“This doesn’t mean we should stop using these medications, but we do need to be more mindful about how they interact with antibiotics, and that includes looking beyond just two-drug combinations,” Prof. Venter adds.
