Ever wondered why it's so important to take your entire antibiotic regimen? Or whether you should be worried about the plethora of medication you may be asking for, or your doctor may be prescribing? New studies show there may be more side-effects than originally anticipated.

                The dangers of anti-biotic resistance have been somewhat understood for the last twenty years. Initial concern was raised with the selective properties of drug-resistant bacteria which antibiotics seem to promote, however a new pressing concern is appearing in the degradation of human cells in over medicated persons.  The method which many antibiotics use activates the bacterial cell to lyse-or break open, through the production of toxic oxygenated species. This works with high efficiency because oxidative stress is a major concern of the cell. Allowing oxygen sub-species to remain in the cell will damage DNA, RNA and protein elements.  

    Scientists are now learning the side-effects of this lysing process, as the oxidative stress is observed in the tissue of humans. Specifically, the mitochondria in human cells are degrading over time, a major problem in the long term. However, it is hard to create antibiotics which do not lyse in this way, so scientists began to look for ways to reduce the stress after treatment.

                The answer came in two forms; firstly, scientists have become more successful in making antibiotics which stop reproduction of cells instead of signaling the lysis pathway. Drugs such as tetracycline target cell reproduction and stop the site of transcription, thus no oxidative structures are needed. The other solution is to immediately rid the site or cells of oxidative species as they are created. The Collins group discovered that certain molecules can be applied locally and used to ‘soak up’ the oxygen bi-product species. Anti-oxidants such as highly effective and already FDA-approved N-acetylcysteine have been shown to do just that, therefore effectively reducing the harmful effects to human tissue from antibiotics.

                While many of the side effects of antibiotics are still prevalent, scientists are beginning to more wholly understand their origins and thus solving the problem. With anti-oxidant and non-lysis drugs being developed, we are now capable of more safe and steady treatments which minimalize long term damage.