Diabetes can accelerate the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Poor glucose control in these patients not only hinders the immune system's response, but also creates a favorable environment for bacterial proliferation and the development of resistant mutations. This is demonstrated by the results of a study in mice, published in Science Advances

Patients with diabetes mellitus are more likely to develop infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to a study conducted by microbiologists at the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine. The research, published in the journal Science Advances, reveals how the microbial environment in diabetic people favors the emergence of resistant mutations and suggests new strategies to combat this phenomenon.

El Staphylococcus aureus, one of the main causes of infections and deaths related to antibiotic resistance, is also bacterial infection most common among diabetic patientsThis chronic disease, which affects the control of blood sugar levels, reduces the body's ability to fight infections.

"We observed that antibiotic resistance emerges much faster in diabetic models than in non-diabetic models of the disease," he explained. Brian Conlon, associate professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at UNC and co-author of the study published this week in Science Advances.

According to Conlon, “this interaction between bacteria and diabetes could be a key factor in the rapid evolution and spread of antibiotic resistance that we are witnessing.”

Diabetes causes a buildup of glucose in the blood, which feeds the Staphylococcus aureus and allows it to reproduce more quickly. In turn, the weakened immune system of diabetic patients makes it difficult to eliminate bacteria, facilitating their uncontrolled growth. As the number of bacteria increases, so does the likelihood of new ones appearing. antibiotic resistant mutations.

Conlon and Lance Thurlow, also a professor of microbiology and immunology at UNC, used a mouse model to investigate how diabetes influences the effectiveness of antibiotics. In their experiment, they infected diabetic and non-diabetic mice with S. aureus and treated them with rifampicin, an antibiotic to which bacteria quickly develop resistance.

Controlling glucose is crucial

After five days of treatment, the results were clear: rifampicin had little effect on the diabetic mice. When analyzing the samples, the researchers found that the bacteria had developed resistance to the antibiotic, with infections containing more than one hundred million resistant bacteria. In contrast, in non-diabetic mice, No resistant bacteria were detected.

The most surprising finding was the rapidity with which the mutation occurred: in only four days, the resistant bacteria dominated the infection in diabetic mice. However, by administering insulin to reduce blood glucose levels, the researchers were able to slow bacterial growth and reduce the emergence of resistant mutations.

"Controlling blood glucose becomes crucial," Conlon said. "When we give insulin to mice, we normalize their sugar levels and We do not observe this rapid proliferation of resistant bacteria».

Conlon and Thurlow now plan to expand their research. to human patients, both diabetic and non-diabetic, and explore resistance to other types of bacteriaas the  Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa y Streptococcus pyogenesIn addition, researchers will investigate whether other vulnerable groups, such as patients undergoing chemotherapy or transplant recipients, are also at increased risk of antibiotic-resistant infections.

The spread of resistant bacteria remains a global concern, since they are transmitted from person to person through the air, contaminated surfaces and food, which makes the prevention of this type of infections a priority.

Reference: John C. Shook et al. "Diabetes potentiates the emergence and expansion of antibiotic resistance." Science Advances (2025)

Source: Sinc Agency

Main picture: A new study shows that patients with diabetes mellitus are more likely to develop infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. / Adobe Stock

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