Antibiotic use increases risk of severe viral disease in mice

(Washington University School of Medicine) Doctors recommend against taking antibiotics for viral infections because they don't work -- antibiotics don't kill viruses -- and do promote antibiotic resistance. Now, a new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests another reason to avoid the pills: taking antibiotics increases susceptibility to subsequent viral infection, at least in mice.
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news