Antibiotic resistance and CBD
Summary: Using cannabis to prevent drug resistance
We'll talk more about drug resistance and how CBD oil can be used to prevent it later. For now, let's just look at the basics of how it works. A number of studies on several cannabinoids have shown that they can interrupt the bacteria's ability to resist antibiotic treatment. Most of these studies focus on a strain of drug-resistant bacteria that infects the skin, known as methicillin-resistant golden staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Finding a high-quality CBD oil containing the full range of phytochemicals from the cannabis plant is the best option for drug resistance. These oils are often referred to as "full-spectrum" extracts. You can apply these oils directly to the skin along with prescribed antibiotics. Research is still ongoing to determine the effectiveness of these oils when administered orally and the dose needed for them to work.
Danger of drug resistance
For the past 80 years, bacterial infection has been relatively low on the list of concerns for doctors and patients. This is because we have had effective antibiotics to treat these infections since the early 1930s. Before that, bacterial infection was a common cause of death. In fact, people born before the 1930s had an average life expectancy of about 47 years. Infectious diseases such as smallpox, cholera, diphtheria, pneumonia, typhus, tuberculosis and syphilis were common and deadly. We lacked effective treatment for these infections. A simple paper cut could have resulted in the death of those unlucky enough to have contracted the dangerous bacteria.
History of antibiotics
Antibiotics changed everything. In 1928, Scottish microbiologist Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered a species of mould known as Penicillium notatum growing in a petri dish.The strange thing about this mold was that it killed the bacteria around it. In the next decade, Fleming developed it into the drug we now know as penicillin. It changed the way we use medicine forever. Since the invention of penicillin, we no longer have to worry about bacterial infection. We had a treatment that could kill virtually any bacteria that attacked us.
Antibiotic resistance began in the 1940s
Three years before the antibiotics were even introduced to the public, the scientists who developed them had already begun to see signs of resistance. But the real problem began when a strain of Staphylococcus became resistant to penicillin in 1940. Subsequently, the following bacteria mutated: tetracycline-resistant Shigella in 1959, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus in 1962, penicillin-resistant Pneumococcus in 1965 and erythromycin-resistant Staphylococcus in 1968. Over the next 50 years, drug resistance rose sharply. Now, resistant strains are emerging every year.
Modern drug resistance
A report published by the CDC in 2016 highlighted just how serious the problem really is. At least 2 million people are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria every year, and more than 23,000 of them die from these infections annually. As more and more of these bacteria become drug resistant, this number is sure to rise substantially. In the last few years, a new strain of the bacteria responsible for typhoid fever has emerged in Pakistan, showing resistance to all but one antibiotic. Once we develop resistance to our last remaining option, we will have nothing to heal us.
Examples of common strains of drug-resistant bacteria:
- Penicillin-resistant pneumococci (PRSP)
- Methicillin-resistant golden staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
- Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE)
- Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (MDRGNB)
- Extensively drug-resistant typhoid fever (XDR typhoid)
- Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR tuberculosis)
How does drug resistance work?
So how does drug resistance work? And how can CBD oil prevent it? First, let's talk about how antibiotics destroy bacteria.
How antibiotics kill bacteria
There are many different types of antibiotics, but most of them work in the same way - antibiotics prevent the growth of bacteria. If the bacteria cannot grow or multiply, they will not have the potential to cause much damage. Bacteria wreak havoc in large numbers. One bacteria, or even several hundred, will have little effect on the body. However, when there are several hundred thousand or millions of them, these organisms can cause serious damage. Antibiotics work by blocking specific parts of the bacteria needed for their multiplication. For a better understanding, let us compare these mechanisms to a construction site. At the construction site there are bacteria that work to create new bacteria to infect new areas of the body.
Some common examples of antibiotics:
1. Beta-lactams
They block the bacteria's ability to build a cell wall. When this happens, the cells begin to rupture during their growth, causing the intestines to leak. This, of course, is fatal to the bacteria. It's like opening the gates to a construction site and letting all the workers leave, taking their tools with them. When no one is left on site to work, the site is eventually abandoned.
2. Macrolides
Macrolides stop cell growth by attacking RNA. This is the part of the cell responsible for making new proteins. No protein = no growth. Since proteins are responsible for everything the bacteria does, it basically deactivates them. They float aimlessly and eventually die. It's like destroying machinery on a construction site. No one will be able to work and the job will eventually be abandoned altogether.
3. Quinolones
Quinolones directly attack the DNA of bacteria. DNA gives all the instructions on how the cell should function. If it is broken, the cell is unable to build anything and as a result, it will die quickly. It's like going to a construction site, completely destroying the plans and firing the builder. The workers will try to carry on, but they don't know how to work efficiently. The building will probably fall apart before it's finished.
How bacteria become resistant
The lifespan of bacteria is very short. Yet, like all organisms on Earth, they are subject to natural selection and evolutionary change. This evolution will eventually lead to bacteria that are adapted to resist antibiotics. Let me explain.
Every time a bacterium is created, there is a small chance that its DNA will acquire a mutation somewhere. Most of the time, the change does nothing. It's neutral. But occasionally this mutation has an impact. It can make the bacteria stronger or weaker. How? Natural selection. Stronger bacteria are more likely to survive and pass on their strong genes to the next generation. Weaker bacteria are at a disadvantage, dying off and taking their "weak" genes out of the genetic pool. Through random trial and error and over many generations, these mutations will eventually make the bacterial population more successful at doing its job. The job of bacteria, like everything on Earth, is to stay alive long enough to reproduce.
How does it work with drug resistance?
Let's say we have 100 bacterial cells. Each one is identical, but has one subtle mutation in its genetic code. These bacteria are then soaked in antibiotics. The vast majority of these bacteria will die. By chance, however, one of them manages to survive. Its unique random mutation protected it from antibiotics. This lonely little bacterium will multiply and create more identical copies of itself with the same mutation. Eventually, the bacteria will form a colony of millions and all share the same genetic mutation, allowing them to resist antibiotics.
This is a simple example of how drug resistance occurs. The only difference is that instead of 100 bacterial cells, there are trillions. And instead of 1 type of antibiotic, there are dozens. Every time we use antibiotics, especially if we do so unnecessarily and too often, we favour bacteria that can resist them. Over the years, the bacteria have become stronger and the fungi more beatable.
How bacteria stop antibiotics from working
The genetic mutations that the bacteria have developed that allow them to resist antibiotics can vary, but the most common method is to pump the antibiotic out of the bacteria once it gets in. This prevents the antibiotic from doing its job and killing the cell. Specialized pumps that do this are referred to as efflux pumps. These efflux pumps have been found in the membranes of many bacteria, but have been proposed to remove compounds from toxic cell-like metabolic byproducts and neurotransmitters. With drug resistance, these pumps are also adapted to pump out antibiotics. This finally brings us to the point of this article...
How do cannabinoids like CBD prevent drug resistance?
Now that we understand how bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics, we can talk about how cannabinoids prevent this. Cannabinoids have a wide range of effects on the human body. They regulate homeostasis through the endocannabinoid system, stimulate serotonin receptors and activate receptors in the body responsible for dampening pain transmission signals.
Cannabinoids also inhibit the efflux pumps of bacteria. As fat-soluble compounds, cannabinoids are able to interact with the fatty membranes of bacterial cells and possibly alter the way they function. Research is currently underway to identify these effects in human trials in order to better understand the specific mechanism that makes them so effective.
Which cannabinoids are best against antibiotic resistance?
One of the main studies on these effects examined the 5 most abundant cannabinoids in the plant: CBD, CBC, CBG, CBN and THC. All of these cannabinoids have been shown to block efflux pumps in strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), but the non-psychoactive cannabinoids CBD and CBG have shown the strongest results. Most ongoing research focuses on cutaneous MRSA infections.
These infections are extremely common in hospitals and are proving to be an emerging global threat. Cannabis ointments are tested to see if they inhibit the growth of these bacteria and allow antibiotics to do their job. Cosmetic companies are also looking at cannabinoids as a new preservative to add to their products to prolong shelf life and prevent bacterial colonies from forming.
How to find CBD oil that will bring these benefits
In this country, CBD oil is perfectly legal as long as it contains no more than 0.3% THC. When shopping for any cannabis product, you have several different options:
1. CBD isolates
CBD isolates are extracts from the cannabis plant that contain only CBD. All terpenes, fiber, plant sugars and proteins are removed, leaving only the highly potent CBD extract. While these products may be effective in combating antibiotic resistance, they are unlikely to provide the same benefits as products that contain other phytochemicals, giving them additional advantages in preventing antibiotic resistance.
2. Full spectrum hemp oil
Full-spectrum hemp oil is the most recommended product for its benefits against antibiotic resistance. This is because the 2 most potent cannabinoids are the non-psychoactive CBD and CBG, which are found in high concentrations in full-spectrum cannabis. In addition to these cannabinoids, the entire phytochemical composition of the plant is also found in this extract. Terpenes, flavonoids, minerals and plant sugars may contribute to its effect.
3. THC oils
THC oils are only available in states that have legalized the recreational use of cannabis. They are also available in countries such as Canada or the Netherlands where these products are legally on sale THC oils typically contain a spectrum of cannabinoids, including CBD, CBG, CBC, CBN and THC, but are referred to as THC oils because of their psychoactive effects. If these products are available and you are not averse to the psychoactive effects of the plant, this may be the best option.
Using CBD oil to prevent antibiotic resistance
Further research is needed to assess the right dose of CBD oil and other hemp oils to prevent bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Most current research involves the external use of the herb to treat MRSA skin infections. The best option is therefore full-spectrum CBD oils that contain as many plant cannabinoids and terpenes as possible. High dosages are also needed in combination with other therapies for best results.
PHOTO: Shutterstock
"All information presented on this website, as well as all the information provided through this website, is for educational purposes only. None of the information presented herein is intended to replace medical diagnosis and cannot be considered as medical advice or recommended treatment. This website does not endorse or advocate the use of narcotics or psychotropic substances, including other illegal activities. For more information, please refer to our Liability Statement. "