In 2021, the World Health Organizationcalledantimicrobial resistance one of the top 10 global health threats.
But some researchers suggest thatprobioticswhich promote the growth of certain good bacteriamight be a potential solution in fighting superbugs.
Research on the effectiveness of probioticsespecially as treatment or prevention of bacterial infectionsis minimal.
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According to the studys coauthor Michael Otto, PhD, the researchers set out to prevent infections byS.
aureus, because this pop in of germ is often resistant to antibiotics and theres no workingS.
While the results are promising, Otto said the study is very specific to theBacillus-S. aureusinteraction.
Can Commercial Probiotics Fight Bacterial Infections?
Otto and his team are planning to screen currently commercially availableBacillusprobiotics on the market for their potency.
diff, includingSaccharomyces boulardii,Lactobacillus rhamnosusGG (LGG) and other lactobacilli, and probiotic mixtures.
I expect that in the next few years, we will be seeing evidence-based probiotic interventions, Ogunseitan said.
In the meantime, Otto said reducing antibiotic dependence and overuse will help limit the spread of superbug infections.
That way, existing antibiotics will still work when we need them.
What This Means For You
Research has not proven that probiotics can cure or prevent bacterial infections.
2023;4(2):e75-e83.
