A new study suggests that a common antibiotic, neomycin, may help prevent and treat viral respiratory infections by boosting the immune response to viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. The researchers found that neomycin applied inside the nose of rodents resulted in a strong immune response, protecting them from infection with both viruses. A small group of healthy people treated with a common nasal ointment containing neomycin also showed a similar immune response. This suggests that neomycin could be a cheap and effective way to prevent severe disease and death from viral respiratory infections in people.
With the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting the importance of preventing and treating viral respiratory infections, the study led by researchers from Yale found that neomycin could reduce the risk of severe disease in rodents. The antibiotic, when applied intranasally, resulted in strong immune responses and protection against SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A infections. While effective vaccines have reduced the severity of COVID-19 cases, there are still few treatments available for viral respiratory infections. Neomycin’s ability to stimulate the innate immune response could offer an alternative treatment option that avoids the development of resistant strains caused by antiviral medications.
Antibiotics like neomycin are typically used to treat bacterial infections, but they can also be used topically for skin infections. Neosporin ointment, which contains neomycin, is commonly used to prevent infection in cuts and burns and for bacterial infections of the nose. In this study, researchers investigated whether intranasal application of neomycin could provide antiviral protection against SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A in rodents. The results showed that neomycin application led to increased levels of immune response in nasal tissue and reduced viral replication in mice and hamsters infected with the viruses.
While the study results are promising, there are concerns about using neomycin intranasally for prolonged periods. Dr. William Schaffner from Vanderbilt University Medical Center cautioned that patients would likely have to apply the ointment regularly for a long time to prevent viral infections. The safety of prolonged application and the risk of developing antibiotic resistance in the nasal and throat populations are also issues that need to be addressed. Further research is needed to determine the effectiveness and safety of neomycin for preventing and treating viral respiratory infections in humans on a larger scale.
Neomycin’s ability to stimulate the immune response offers a potential new approach to preventing viral respiratory infections, as treating infections with antivirals can lead to resistant strains. The researchers suggest that neomycin could be a cost-effective and readily available option for boosting the immune response to viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. However, more research is needed to understand how neomycin works, its protective effects in humans, and its safety for widespread use in the population. The study findings present an exciting development in the search for new treatments for viral respiratory infections, but further investigation is necessary before considering neomycin for clinical application on a larger scale.
Despite the study’s potential benefits, there are concerns about the long-term use of neomycin and the risk of developing antibiotic resistance. Dr. Jonathan Stoye from the Francis Crick Institute emphasized the need for more research to determine the protective effects of neomycin in humans and its safety for widespread use. While the study results are promising, it is essential to conduct further investigations into the efficacy and safety of neomycin for preventing and treating viral respiratory infections. The researchers’ findings offer a new perspective on using antibiotics to stimulate the immune response and provide a potential alternative treatment option for viral respiratory infections, but more research is needed to address safety and effectiveness concerns.