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Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Analyses of Murine Intestinal Microbiota After Oral Antibiotic Treatment
08:33

Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Analyses of Murine Intestinal Microbiota After Oral Antibiotic Treatment

Published on: November 17, 2018

Side effects of antibiotics

A Manten

    The Veterinary Quarterly
    |October 1, 1981
    PubMed

    Insights

    Antibiotic side effects include hypersensitivity, toxicity, and drug resistance. Newer antibiotics, unlike older ones, have shown serious toxicities not predicted in animal studies.

    Area of Science:

    • Pharmacology
    • Microbiology
    • Toxicology

    Background:

    • Antibiotics are crucial for treating bacterial infections.
    • Adverse reactions to antibiotics can manifest as hypersensitivity, toxicity, or microbial resistance.
    • Early antibiotics like penicillin had low toxicity, but later classes presented significant risks.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To review the spectrum of antibiotic side effects in human patients.
    • To differentiate between hypersensitivity, toxicological, and microbial adverse effects.
    • To discuss the historical development and safety profile of antibiotic classes.

    Main Methods:

    • Literature review of antibiotic side effects.
    • Classification of untoward reactions.
    • Historical analysis of antibiotic discovery and toxicity.

    Main Results:

    • Three main categories of antibiotic side effects identified: hypersensitivity, toxicity, and resistance.
    • Older antibiotics (penicillin, sulfonamides) exhibit low toxicity due to targeting bacterial-specific pathways.
    • Later antibiotics (aminoglycosides, chloramphenicol, tetracyclines) demonstrated unpredictable and serious toxicities, sometimes not predicted by animal models.
    • Current optimal antibiotics are derived from traditional sources, reflecting interdisciplinary collaboration.

    Conclusions:

    • The evolution of antibiotic development has led to safer, more effective antimicrobial agents.
    • Future antimicrobial drugs are less likely to carry unforeseen toxicities seen in past discoveries.
    • Ongoing research continues to refine antibiotic safety and efficacy.

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