review · Infection and Drug Resistance
Antimicrobial resistance represents a major global health concern driven by the persistent use and misuse of antimicrobial drugs. Developing replacement medicines is expensive, slow, and unsustainable because bacteria rapidly evolve resistance to novel agents. Bolstering the body's natural defences through dietary interventions provides an alternative strategy. Probiotics deliver live beneficial microorganisms through foods or dietary supplements, whilst prebiotics supply non-digestible fibres that foster beneficial gut bacteria. Synbiotics combine both elements to support gut health synergistically. By sustaining and restoring a balanced bacterial population in the body, these dietary approaches lower the risk of developing infections and decrease reliance on conventional antibiotics. Furthermore, probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics are generally safe, well tolerated, and do not encourage the emergence of drug resistance.
The rise of drug-resistant bacteria threatens modern healthcare, making common infections harder and costlier to treat. Because relying solely on newly formulated antibiotics is an unsustainable cycle, turning to dietary interventions such as probiotics and prebiotics offers a safe, accessible method to bolster natural immunity and curb unnecessary antimicrobial use.
The conceptual focus centres on dietary products, specifically functional foods and nutritional supplements containing probiotics, prebiotics, or synbiotics. These applications could target consumers, healthcare providers, and the food and wellness industries seeking non-pharmaceutical infection prevention methods. As this is a review outlining established definitions and broad therapeutic rationales rather than introducing or testing a specific commercial formulation, it remains at an early conceptual stage of technological application.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant public health concern worldwide. The continuous use and misuse of antimicrobial agents have led to the emergence and spread of resistant strains of bacteria, which can cause severe infections that are difficult to treat. One of the reasons for the constant development of new antimicrobial agents is the need to overcome the resistance that has developed against existing drugs. However, this approach is not sustainable in the long term, as bacteria can quickly develop resistance to new drugs as well. Additionally, the development of new drugs is costly and time-consuming, and there is no guarantee that new drugs will be effective or safe. An alternative approach to combat AMR is to focus on improving the body's natural defenses against infections by using probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics, which are helpful to restore and maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the body. Probiotics are live microorganisms that can be consumed as food or supplements to promote gut health and improve the body's natural defenses against infections. Prebiotics are non-digestible fibers that stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, while synbiotics are a combination of probiotics and prebiotics that work together to improve gut health. By promoting a healthy balance of bacteria in the body, these can help to reduce the risk of infections and the need for antimicrobial agents. Additionally, these approaches are generally safe and well tolerated, and they do not contribute to the development of AMR. In conclusion, the continuous development of new antimicrobial agents is not a sustainable approach to combat AMR. Instead, alternative approaches such as probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics should be considered as they can help to promote a healthy balance of bacteria in the body and reduce the need for antibiotics.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.2147/idr.s413416
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