Antibiotic Compound Kills Hard-to-Treat, Infectious Bacteria While Sparing Healthy Bacteria in the Gut Posted on June 20th, 2024 by Dr. Monica M. Bertagnolli

https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2024/06/20/antibiotic-compound-kills-hard-to-treat-infectious-bacteria-while-sparing-healthy-bacteria-in-the-gut/ Drug-resistant bacteria are responsible for a rise in serious, hospital-acquired infections, including pneumonia and sepsis. Many of these bacteria are classified as “gram-negative,” and are harder to kill than “gram-positive” bacteria. Unfortunately, the limited number of antibiotics that can help combat these dangerous infections can also damage healthy microbes in the gut, leaving people at risk for other, potentially life-threatening infections. Such antibiotic-induced disruption has also been linked in studies to irritable bowel syndrome, colon cancer, and many other health conditions.