Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen Linked to Rising Antibiotic Resistance: Study Finds
A new study from the University of South Australia has revealed that widely used painkillers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen may be contributing to the growing global threat of antibiotic resistance. Published in the journal npj Antimicrobials and Resistance, the research shows that these over-the-counter drugs not only promote antibiotic resistance individually but have an even stronger effect when used together.
The study explored how these non-antibiotic medications interact with ciprofloxacin—a broad-spectrum antibiotic—and Escherichia coli (E. coli), a common bacterium responsible for urinary tract and gut infections. Researchers found that the combination significantly increased genetic mutations in the bacteria, making them highly resistant to the antibiotic.
These findings highlight that the issue of antibiotic resistance extends beyond the overuse of antibiotics alone, with everyday medications like pain relievers also playing a surprising and concerning role in this complex public health challenge.
"Antibiotic resistance isn't just about antibiotics anymore," said lead researcher Rietie Venter, Associate Professor at the varsity.
"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," Venter added.
The team looked at the effect of non-antibiotic medicines and ciprofloxacin -- an antibiotic that is used to treat common skin, gut, or urinary tract infections.
"When bacteria were exposed to ciprofloxacin alongside ibuprofen and acetaminophen, they developed more genetic mutations than with the antibiotic alone, helping them grow faster and become highly resistant.
"Worryingly, the bacteria were not only resistant to the antibiotic ciprofloxacin, but increased resistance was also observed to multiple other antibiotics from different classes," Venter said.
This study is a clear reminder that we need to carefully consider the risks of using multiple medications -- particularly in aged care, where residents are often prescribed a mix of long-term treatments.
While this doesn't mean "we should stop using these medications, but we do need to be more mindful about how they interact with antibiotics -- and that includes looking beyond just two-drug combinations," Venter said.
Dr Bhumika Maikhuri is a Consultant Orthodontist at Sanjeevan Hospital, Delhi. She is also working as a Correspondent and a Medical Writer at Medical Dialogues. She completed her BDS from Dr D Y patil dental college and MDS from Kalinga institute of dental sciences. Apart from dentistry, she has a strong research and scientific writing acumen. At Medical Dialogues, She focusses on medical news, dental news, dental FAQ and medical writing etc.