The effect of aspirin on antibiotic susceptibility

Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA) is often co-administered during the treatment of infections. Salicylic acid (SAL), the active metabolite of ASA, has significant effects on bacteria that might improve or (more likely) compromise the effectiveness of antibiotics. Areas covered: In this review, we summarize the interactions between SAL and antibiotics, and describe the underlying mechanisms involved. Expert opinion: In an era of rapidly increasing antibiotic resistance and lack of new antibiotic development, it is important to explore ways to optimize the effectiveness of antimicrobial treatment. This includes a better understanding of the interactions between commonly co-administered drugs. SAL might compromise the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment by inducing phenotypic resistance in bacteria. It can induce phenotypic resistance by up- or downregulating outer membrane proteins or efflux pumps, by upregulating antibiotic targets and by inducing enzymes with degrading activity. Moreover, SAL can increase the frequency of mutations leading to antibiotic resistance.