The use of common over-the-counter painkillers is fuelling antibiotic resistance, one of the greatest threats to global health.
New research from University of South Australia found the use of ibuprofen and paracetamol drove antibiotic resistance, with combined use amplifying the impact.
Lead researcher Associate Professor Rietie Venter said the first study of its kind assessed the interaction of non-antibiotic medications, the broad-spectrum antibiotic ciprofloxacin, and the E. coli bacteria that caused gut and urinary tract infections.
Associate Professor Venter said researchers found that ibuprofen and paracetamol significantly increased bacterial mutations, making E. coli highly resistant to the antibiotic.
“It’s an important finding that has serious health implications, particularly for people in aged care homes, where multiple medications are regularly administered.”
She said the World Health Organization reported that antimicrobial resistance was a global threat to public health, and that bacterial resistance was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019.
“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.”
Associate Professor Venter said the study showed antibiotic resistance was a more complex challenge than previously understood, with common non-antibiotic medications also playing a role.
“Antibiotic resistance isn’t just about antibiotics anymore,” she said.
“This study is a clear reminder that we need to carefully consider the risks of using multiple medications.”
Read the full study: The effect of commonly used non-antibiotic medications on antimicrobial resistance development in Escherichia coli.
