India, Aug. 29 -- In a new study, researchers looked at nine medicines often used in aged care - ibuprofen (pain and inflammation), diclofenac (arthritis pain), paracetamol/acetaminophen (pain and fever), furosemide (high blood pressure), metformin (diabetes), atorvastatin (high cholesterol), tramadol (strong pain relief), temazepam (sleep problems), and pseudoephedrine (blocked nose).
The team tested how these drugs interact with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin and E. coli, a common cause of stomach and urinary tract infections. They found that ibuprofen and paracetamol sped up genetic changes in the bacteria, making them resistant not only to ciprofloxacin but also to other antibiotics.
"When bacteria were exposed to ciprofloxacin alongsid...