Antibiotic use during influenza infection augments lung eosinophils that impair immunity against secondary bacterial pneumonia.

ABSTRACT: A leading cause of mortality after influenza infection is the development of a secondary bacterial pneumonia. In the absence of a bacterial superinfection, prescribing antibacterial therapies is not indicated but has become a common clinical practice for those presenting with a respiratory viral illness. In a murine model, we found that antibiotic use during influenza infection impaired the lung innate immunologic defenses toward a secondary challenge with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Antibiotics augment lung eosinophils, which have inhibitory effects on macrophage function through the release of major basic protein. Moreover, we demonstrated that antibiotic treatment during influenza infection caused a fungal dysbiosis that drove lung eosinophilia and impaired MRSA

SUBMITTER: Sanches Santos Rizzo Zuttion M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11527449 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature