Habteweld Habtemariam Alekaw, Asfaw Tsegahun
Department of Pharmacy, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia.
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia.
Infect Drug Resist. 2023 May 23;16:3191-3211. doi: 10.2147/IDR.S413416. eCollection 2023.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant public health concern worldwide. The continuous use and misuse of antimicrobial agents have led to the emergence and spread of resistant strains of bacteria, which can cause severe infections that are difficult to treat. One of the reasons for the constant development of new antimicrobial agents is the need to overcome the resistance that has developed against existing drugs. However, this approach is not sustainable in the long term, as bacteria can quickly develop resistance to new drugs as well. Additionally, the development of new drugs is costly and time-consuming, and there is no guarantee that new drugs will be effective or safe. An alternative approach to combat AMR is to focus on improving the body's natural defenses against infections by using probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics, which are helpful to restore and maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the body. Probiotics are live microorganisms that can be consumed as food or supplements to promote gut health and improve the body's natural defenses against infections. Prebiotics are non-digestible fibers that stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, while synbiotics are a combination of probiotics and prebiotics that work together to improve gut health. By promoting a healthy balance of bacteria in the body, these can help to reduce the risk of infections and the need for antimicrobial agents. Additionally, these approaches are generally safe and well tolerated, and they do not contribute to the development of AMR. In conclusion, the continuous development of new antimicrobial agents is not a sustainable approach to combat AMR. Instead, alternative approaches such as probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics should be considered as they can help to promote a healthy balance of bacteria in the body and reduce the need for antibiotics.
抗菌药物耐药性(AMR)是全球重大的公共卫生问题。抗菌药物的持续使用和滥用导致了耐药菌株的出现和传播,这些耐药菌株可引发难以治疗的严重感染。不断研发新型抗菌药物的原因之一是需要克服对现有药物产生的耐药性。然而,从长远来看,这种方法是不可持续的,因为细菌也能迅速对新药产生耐药性。此外,新药研发成本高昂且耗时,而且不能保证新药会有效或安全。对抗AMR的另一种方法是专注于通过使用益生菌、益生元及合生元来增强人体对感染的天然防御能力,这有助于恢复和维持体内细菌的健康平衡。益生菌是可作为食物或补充剂食用的活微生物,有助于促进肠道健康并增强人体对感染的天然防御能力。益生元是不可消化的纤维,可刺激肠道内有益细菌的生长,而合生元则是益生菌和益生元的组合,共同作用以改善肠道健康。通过促进体内细菌的健康平衡,这些物质有助于降低感染风险以及对抗菌药物的需求。此外,这些方法通常安全且耐受性良好,不会导致AMR的产生。总之,持续研发新型抗菌药物并非对抗AMR的可持续方法。相反,应考虑采用益生菌、益生元及合生元等替代方法,因为它们有助于促进体内细菌的健康平衡并减少对抗生素的需求。