Gut bacteria are essential for good health. Scientists have recently discovered that the interactions between gut bacteria can play a key role in limiting the effectiveness of antibiotics. In a new study published in the journal Nature, researchers from the University of California, San Diego found that the composition of the gut microbiome can affect the ability of antibiotics to clear out bacterial infections. The researchers showed that when certain types of gut bacteria are present, antibiotics are less effective at killing certain bacteria. This is due to the bacteria creating a protective environment in which they can survive the antibiotic treatment. This suggests that in order to maximize effectiveness of antibiotics, it may be necessary to also consider the gut microbiome.

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source: Phys.org