Underestimated collateral effects of antibiotic therapy in prosthesis-associated bacterial infections.
Antibiotic treatment of infections associated with the use of indwelling medical devices in ageing and/or severely ill patients represents a significant healthcare problem due to the difficulty of treating such infections and to the various collateral effects that may be observed following the often aggressive therapy. We summarize some effects of antibiotics on the expression of virulence factors of the microorganisms which cause such infections. These effects, particularly those resulting in a stimulation of bacterial virulence, might be usefully included among the other well-known collateral effects of antibiotic therapy.
Baldassarri
L
L
Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy. baldassa@iss.it
Montanaro
L
L
Creti
R
R
Arciola
C R
CR
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D014774:Virulence / Q000187:drug effects; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D037521:Virulence Factors