Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs

Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs are both important medicines, but they work in different ways and treat different things. Antibiotics like penicillin are used to kill bacteria that cause infections, while drugs like ibuprofen help reduce pain, fever, and swelling.

The first antibiotic discovered was penicillin. In 1928, Alexander Fleming noticed that a fungus called Penicillium notatum killed bacteria in a Petri dish. This led to the development of penicillin, which became a powerful weapon during World War II to treat bacterial infections (Lima et al., 2020). Later, scientists made it possible to produce penicillin in large amounts (Lima et al., 2020). Penicillin is part of a bigger group called β-lactam antibiotics, which also includes drugs like cephalosporins and carbapenems. These medicines kill bacteria by stopping them from building their cell walls. Without a strong wall, the bacteria burst and die (Lima et al., 2020). Luckily, human cells don’t have these walls, so the drugs don’t hurt us. That’s why β-lactam antibiotics are safe and very useful (Lima et al., 2020). However, some bacteria fight back by producing special enzymes called β-lactamases. These enzymes break the β-lactam antibiotics, making them useless. To beat this, scientists created β-lactamase inhibitors to block these enzymes, so the antibiotics can work again (Lima et al., 2020).

Now, while antibiotics fight bacteria, another important type of drug is ibuprofen. It’s a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat everyday problems like headaches, toothaches, or menstrual pain (Li et al., 2015). Ibuprofen works by stopping enzymes like COX-1 and COX-2 that cause inflammation and pain in your body (Li et al., 2015). Ibuprofen is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream after you take it by mouth, and it attaches to proteins in your blood. Most of it is broken down and leaves your body through your urine (Li et al., 2015). Food can slow down how fast it gets into your system. When taken with food, the peak concentration in the blood is lower and it takes longer to reach it (Li et al., 2015). A recent study tested if a generic version of ibuprofen worked just as well as a branded version in healthy people. They tested both while fasting and after eating (Li et al., 2015). The study showed that both versions had similar effects, so the generic one is considered just as good (Li et al., 2015).

Recent research has also highlighted the importance of understanding how these drugs interact with the human body and with each other. The widespread use of β-lactam antibiotics has led to the emergence of resistant bacterial strains, which is now a major global health issue (Lima et al., 2020). Resistance mechanisms include the production of β-lactamases, modification of antibiotic target sites, and reduced drug permeability. These adaptations make infections harder to treat and increase the risk of complications (Lima et al., 2020). At the same time, studies on ibuprofen have shown that its effects go beyond pain relief. According to the article by Li et al. (2015), ibuprofen’s anti-inflammatory action can also influence immune responses, which may affect how the body reacts to infections. Interestingly, combining NSAIDs with antibiotics has shown both potential benefits and risks. In some cases, NSAIDs can reduce symptoms without addressing the underlying infection, possibly delaying diagnosis and treatment (Li et al., 2015). However, they may also help control excessive inflammation during bacterial infections. Because of these complex interactions, medical professionals emphasize using both antibiotics and NSAIDs carefully, following proper guidelines to avoid resistance, side effects, or reduced treatment effectiveness.

Both antibiotics and ibuprofen are important in medicine, but they serve different purposes. Antibiotics kill bacteria, while ibuprofen relieves pain and inflammation. Scientists continue to study how they work and how to make them better and safer, especially when bacteria become resistant or when people take medicine under different conditions like with or without food.

References (2)

Lima, L.M., da Silva, B.N.M., Barbosa, G. and Barreiro, E.J. (2020). β-lactam antibiotics: An overview from a medicinal chemistry perspective. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, [online] 208(0223-5234), p.112829. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112829.

Li, J., Yu, F., Chen, Y. and Oupický, D. (2015). Polymeric drugs: Advances in the development of pharmacologically active polymers. Journal of Controlled Release, [online] 219, pp.369–382. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2015.09.043.