Antidepressants do bacteria invincible

Why antidepressants may be one reason for the growth of antibiotic resistance? It turned out that one of the ingredients of these drugs cause mutations in certain bacteria.

As shown by a new study, antidepressants may contribute to the increase in the number of so-called superbugs that cause antibiotic resistance. Scientists have found that quite often in antidepressantsused ingredient that causes mutations in some bacteria. Them after they gain the most dangerous resistance. Magicforum recalls that the ineffectiveness of antibiotics is the most significant threat to our health, according to scientists from the world health organization. Genes in bacteria are modified in order to withstand the effects of the drugs.

When antibiotics lose their effectiveness, such common infections as pneumonia or Salmonella becomes deadly. Only in Europe antibiotic resistance has led to the deaths of more than 50,000 people. Some researchers believe that this number will grow 10-fold by 2050, unless science be able to solve this problem. Currently deal with it by reducing the discharge of antibiotics, because the more likely to use these medications, the higher the risk that bacteria will learn to resist them.

And now a new study has shown that the antidepressant fluoxetine, known under the brand name Prozac, has an impact on the coliform bacteria that cause food poisoning. After exposure to fluoxetine these bacteria goes through genetic changes that cause resistance to this antibiotic as chloramphenicol, amoxicillin and tetracycline. These drugs are often used to treat acne, and infections of the lungs and urinary tract. (READ MORE)