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Review
. 2024 Nov 1;13(11):1034.
doi: 10.3390/antibiotics13111034.

Antibiotic-Induced Immunosuppression-A Focus on Cellular Immunity

Timothy Arthur Chandos Snow  1 , Mervyn Singer  1 , Nishkantha Arulkumaran  1
Affiliations
Review

Antibiotic-Induced Immunosuppression-A Focus on Cellular Immunity

Timothy Arthur Chandos Snow et al. Antibiotics (Basel). .

Abstract

Antibiotics are the fundamental treatment for bacterial infections. However, they are associated with numerous side effects. Their adverse effects on the immune system are increasingly recognised, with several mechanisms identified. In this review, we focus on their direct effects on cellular immunity. We review the effects of antibiotics on mitochondrial function and how they impair specific immune cell functions including chemotaxis, phagocytosis, cytokine production, antigen presentation, and lymphocyte proliferation. Findings are described in a multitude of in vivo and in vitro models. However, their impact on patient immunity and clinical outcomes requires further research. Awareness of the potential adverse effects of antibiotics may improve antimicrobial stewardship. The use of therapeutic drug monitoring may help to reduce dose-dependent effects, which warrants further research.

Keywords: antimicrobial; critical illness; immune response; infection; lymphocyte; monocyte; sepsis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Summary of immunosuppressive effects of antibiotics by class on immune cell function. TLR: Toll-like receptor, HLA-DR: Human Leukocyte Antigen—DR isotype, CD: cluster of differentiation. Created in www.BioRender.com.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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