Mitigation of antibiotic resistance using probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics. A review

Multi-drug resistant microbes are becoming a serious threat to health security and the economy. Antibiotic resistance results from the overuse of antibiotics for healthcare and livestock production. Reducing antimicrobial resistance requires replacing antibiotic consumption by more sustainable strategies to improve the immunity of humans and other animals. Therefore, here we review the use of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics to improve immunity and to reduce infections and antimicrobial resistance. The efficiency of these alternative drugs rely on colonization interference and antimicrobial activity against pathogens, restoration of the mucosal barrier function of the host, immunomodulation of the defense system and maintaining intestinal homeostasis.

Automated summary

Multi-drug resistant microbes pose a serious threat to health security and the economy. This review focuses on the use of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics as alternative drugs to improve immunity and reduce infections and antimicrobial resistance. These approaches rely on different mechanisms, including colonization interference, antimicrobial activity, restoration of mucosal barrier function, immunomodulation, and maintaining intestinal homeostasis.