Common painkillers like ibuprofen and paracetamol linked to antibiotic resistance

Widely used painkillers like ibuprofen and paracetamol may be contributing to the growing global health threat of antibiotic resistance.

Published in npj Antimicrobials and Resistance, the Australian study is the first to show that these two non-antibiotic medications can not only promote antimicrobial resistance when used individually but have an amplified effect when used together.

About the study:

Researchers investigated how nine commonly prescribed non-antibiotic medications, including painkillers, blood pressure drugs and sleep aids, interact with ciprofloxacin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat skin, gut, and urinary tract infections, as well as Escherichia coli (E. coli), a common bacteria responsible for these infections.

Findings:

They found that when E. coli was exposed to ciprofloxacin alongside ibuprofen or acetaminophen, the bacteria developed significantly more genetic mutations. These mutations made the bacteria not only highly resistant to ciprofloxacin but also to several other antibiotic classes. This finding is particularly concerning in aged care settings, where polypharmacy—the use of multiple medications—is common. Researchers warn that such drug combinations may unintentionally promote antibiotic resistance.

“Antibiotic resistance isn’t just about antibiotics anymore,” the author explained. “Even non-antibiotic drugs like pain relievers can activate bacterial defence systems, allowing them to expel antibiotics and survive treatment.”

With the World Health Organization reporting 1.27 million deaths from antimicrobial resistance in 2019, the study underscores the urgent need to better understand how everyday medications interact—not only with each other, but also with antibiotics.

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