Can you get rid of a bacterial infection without antibiotics

Patients suffering from liver cirrhosis often die of life-threatening bacterial infections. In these patients the immune cells are unable to eliminate the bacterial infections. Scientist at the University of Bonn and TU Munich have now discovered that type I IFN released by immune cells due to increased migration of gut bacteria into the cirrhotic liver incapacitate the immune system. Based on their findings, such life-threatening infections can be contained by strengthening the immune response alone -- without antibiotics. The results have now appeared in the journal Gut.

Each year, about 170,000 people die of complications of hepatic cirrhosis in Europe. Frequent causes of the widespread disease include alcohol abuse, fatty liver hepatitis, and chronic viral hepatitis. Liver cirrhosis develops gradually over a period of years and decades. Liver cells die and get replaced by connective tissue. The scar tissue blocks the flow of blood through the liver leading to increased pressure in the blood vessels in the intestine and thus to the leakage of intestinal bacteria, which reach the liver via the blood.

"About one-third of the fatal cases of hepatic cirrhosis are attributable to bacterial infections," says Prof. Dr. Jonel Trebicka, from the Department of Internal Medicine in the University Hospital Bonn, who is participating in the study and has been studying liver cirrhosis for many years. It has long been known that patients with hepatic cirrhosis have impaired immunity. The exact causes were largely unknown. The team of Dr. Zeinab Abdullah at the Institute for Experimental Immunology in the University Hospital Bonn and Prof. Dr. Percy Knolle from the Institute of Molecular Immunology in the Technical University Munich, together with colleagues from the Department of Internal Medicine, LIMES-Institute in the University of Bonn and the RWTH University Hospital Aachen has now discovered the processes behind the attenuation of the immune system.

Collapse of the immune function of the macrophages

In mice suffering from liver cirrhosis, the scientist observed a sustained production of Type-1 interferon in response to the intestinal bacteria by immune cells responsible for defense against infection, namely macrophages and monocytes in the liver. When these immune cells were then infected by a small number of the pathogenic bacteria, Listeria, the production of Type-1 interferon massively increased. As a consequence, the immune-regulatory factor interleukin-10 was release, which led to a defect in the anti-bacterial functions of the macrophages and thus to a fatal course of infections.

The scientists also performed these studies on human monocytes from the blood of cirrhosis patients. Dr. Zeinab Abdullah, a group leader at the Institute for Experimental Immunology in the University hospital Bonn said: "Following infection with pathogenic bacteria, we also observed highly elevated production of Type-1 interferon and interleukin-10 by monocytes from cirrhosis patients." "Our results identify the blind spot of the immune system that is responsible for the failure of the immune response to bacterial infections."

Approaches for new diagnoses and therapies

Further experiments identified new therapeutic options: Mice that are unable to produce Type-1 interferon were protected against Listeria infection despite the migration of the gut bacteria into the liver, because their immune cells didn't produce high levels of Type-1 interferon and IL-10 after Listeria infection. "The groundbreaking finding of our study is that we might be now able to treat a life-threatening bacterial infection without antibiotics, simply by strengthening the immune response," says Prof. Dr. Percy Knolle of TU Munich. According to the researchers, this give rise to hope for new therapeutic options. "When the formation of Type-1 interferon in the liver cells is blocked by suitable substances, there is a prospect of reinvigorating the immune system," adds Professor Knolle. However, this very promising approach must first be confirmed in clinical studies.

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Materials provided by University of Bonn. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

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Bacterial Infections and Their Viral Counterparts: What You Should Know

We all get infections from time to time, whether they're bacterial or viral. The germs that cause infections are all around us, leading to various illnesses. But what exactly is the difference between a viral and bacterial infection? Here's what you should know.

Bacteria are living microscopic organisms that are all around us, even on us. Most bacteria are harmless or even helpful. Some bacteria live in your gut to help you digest food, for example. But when some bacteria get into parts of your body where they're not meant to be, they can make you ill, causing a bacterial infection.

Bacteria can enter your body through your mouth, your respiratory tract, or even cuts or openings in your skin, like tattoos, piercings, or surgical incisions. Depending on the part of the body that is infected, symptoms can include:

• Redness and swelling at the infection site
• Fever
• Pus or foul-smelling discharge
• Pain
• Sweating

Once unfriendly bacteria enter your body, your body's immune system tries to fight them off. But oftentimes, your body can't fight the infection naturally, and you need to take antibiotics - medication that kills the bacteria. Antibiotics come in many forms, including pills, injections, creams, drops, and intravenously. Not all antibiotics can kill all bacteria, so your doctor or nurse practitioner need to know what type of infection you have in order to prescribe the correct medication.

Some infections are common and recognizable, but your health care provider may take a culture of the infected area. This could be a blood sample, a swab of the infected area, or some sputum. The sample is sent to a laboratory for testing. It's not unusual, however, if you're given a broad-spectrum antibiotic while you wait. These antibiotics treat a large field of infections and if the sample shows you should have a more specific antibiotic, your prescription can be changed.

Viral Infections

When an infection is caused by a virus - tiny agents that live inside living cells - it's called a viral infection. Like bacteria, viruses are everywhere, and some are more serious than others. Common viral infections are the cold, influenza, and chicken pox, but serious ones include Ebola and HIV.

Viruses enter your body mainly through your mouth or respiratory tract, although they can also enter through blood-to-blood contact, and through openings in your skin, such as herpes. Many viruses, like chicken pox and colds, are self-limiting: they last a while and then go away as your body fights them. However, viruses such as hepatitis C and HIV live in your body for years. And as long as you have them, you can transmit them to someone else.

There is no cure for most viruses. Antibiotics are not effective treatment for viruses, but there are some antiviral medications that can help your body fight off infections like shingles or influenza more quickly. Treatment for viruses often focuses on your symptoms to help you feel a bit better until the virus is gone.

Preventing Viral and Bacterial Infections

The same general rule of thumb helps prevent the spread of both bacterial infections and viral infections: Practice good hygiene, such as washing your hands thoroughly whenever needed and not sharing personal items like razors. Also, make sure to keep all open wounds clean (and covered, depending on the wound).

If you're given an antibiotic for a bacterial infection, it's essential that you take it exactly as prescribed and for the full length of time, regardless of how much better you may be feeling. If you stop too soon, the infection may regain its foothold and even get worse. Vaccinations are also an option. There are vaccinations that can help reduce the risk of catching some viral infections, such as influenza, mumps, and chicken pox, and a few for preventing bacterial infections like tuberculosis.

It's vital that infections are treated quickly and effectively. Untreated infections, even common ones like urinary tract infections, can spread, causing a serious illness called sepsis. Sepsis is the body's overreaction to infection, and it can result in organ damage, amputations, or even death.

By taking care of yourself and seeking medical help for any infections, you can prevent them from causing complications.

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