Antibiotics During Flu May Harm Lung Immunity and Increase Bacterial Pneumonia Risk
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Nov 02, 2024 14 hours, 39 minutes ago
Medical News: Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center-USA, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine-USA, and the University of Pittsburgh-USA have revealed that using antibiotics during influenza infections may actually impair the body’s ability to fight off bacterial pneumonia that can follow a viral infection. The study dives deep into how antibiotics may disrupt lung immunity and increase the chances of bacterial infections. This
Medical News report explores the main findings of this study and what they mean for clinical practices involving antibiotics and flu treatment.
Antibiotics During Flu May Harm Lung Immunity and Increase Bacterial Pneumonia Risk
The Study Setup
To investigate the effects of antibiotics during flu infections, researchers conducted a detailed mouse study. In the experiment, mice were given influenza, followed by a bacterial infection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a bacterium often responsible for post-flu bacterial pneumonia. Mice were separated into groups, with some receiving a combination of broad-spectrum antibiotics (including vancomycin, neomycin, ampicillin, and metronidazole) before the bacterial infection, while others did not receive any antibiotics.
The study details the impacts of this treatment, shedding light on how antibiotics influence immune responses in the lungs and why these findings are crucial for patient care.
Key Findings
-Antibiotics Worsen Lung Damage and Hinder Bacterial Clearance
The study revealed that the mice treated with antibiotics experienced increased lung injury and had greater bacterial presence in their lungs than those without antibiotics. Specifically, lung tissues in the antibiotic-treated group showed more damage and inflammation, with a significantly higher number of MRSA colony-forming units, indicating less effective bacterial clearance.
-Antibiotic-Induced Eosinophil Increase Impairs Immune Function
An unexpected finding was the role of eosinophils, a type of immune cell typically involved in allergic responses, which increased in the lungs due to antibiotics. These cells released substances that inhibited the ability of macrophages - another type of immune cell - to engulf and destroy bacteria effectively. This impairment of macrophage function through eosinophil activity suggested that antibiotics had a suppressive effect on the lung’s natural bacterial defenses.
-Antibiotics Drive Fungal Imbalance, Leading to More Eosinophils
The study further demonstrated that antibiotic treatment caused an imbalance in gut fungi, specifically promoting the growth of certain fungi like Saccharomyces and Malassezia, which then triggered an increase in lung eosinophils. This disruption of the microbiome, commonly referred to as “fungal dysbiosis,” appeared to contribute to weakened lung immunity, creating an environment more vulnerable to secondary bacterial infections.
Human Data Corroborate Mouse Findings
To support the mouse findings, researchers analyzed data from three patient cohorts hospitalized with severe respiratory infections. They observed a positive correlation between antibiotic use, elevated eosinophil levels, and worse outcomes in terms of inflammation and longer hospital stays. Elevated levels of eosinophils were linked to patients’ prolonged stays in intensive care units, and higher plasma levels of eosinophil peroxidase, a marker of eosinophil activity, correlated with increased inflammation markers and worsened clinical outcomes.
What This Means for Antibiotic Use in Flu Cases
The study provides a compelling argument that antibiotics should be used cautiously in patients with flu unless there is clear evidence of a bacterial infection. This approach aligns with existing guidelines suggesting that antibiotics should not be prescribed for viral infections like influenza. Overprescribing antibiotics can disrupt the immune system’s ability to respond to bacterial threats effectively and can even contribute to adverse outcomes.
Conclusion
In summary, the study concludes that antibiotics given during flu infections can disrupt lung immunity and increase the risk of severe bacterial pneumonia. By promoting eosinophil accumulation in the lungs, antibiotics hinder the body’s ability to clear bacterial pathogens and leave patients at greater risk. These findings emphasize the need for more targeted antibiotic use, especially during viral infections, to prevent adverse health effects.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation.
https://www.jci.org/articles/view/180986
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