Researchers found that antibiotics are taken together with a spoonful of sugar can dramatically increase the effectiveness against a stubborn infections like tuberculosis (TB).
Laboratory tests showed that glucose and fructose (a type of sugar found in plants) can stimulate the bacteria and make it more potent against the drug.
"If the old term 'spoonful of sugar make the medicine go down easier (easier to swallow) then the new term' spoonful of sugar make the medicine work '," explained Professor James Collins, of Boston University.
According to Professor Collins, chronic and recurrent infections often occur when the bacteria off and become metabolically active. Over the past few weeks or months, the bacteria will come back to life, become stronger and more aggressive than before, thus making the disease the patient relapsed.
Germs are persistent (recurrent) are different from bacteria that develop resistance (immunity) of antibiotics through genetic mutations, but the persistent bacteria can cause many problems.
And the scientists look for new ways to cope with the persistent bacteria rose from hibernation by using a simple weapon, namely sugar.
Scientists found that the sugar acts as a stimulant that is active against bacteria and make the normal response of bacteria vulnerable to antibiotics.
The study was then performed by testing Escherichia coli (E. coli), which is a common cause of urinary tract infections.
As a result, researchers were able to eliminate 99.9 percent of persister (persistent bacteria) in just two hours. Without sugar, the drugs used have no effect.
The study reported in the journal Nature also shows that the approach is as effective against persistent bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, which can produce serious infections.
Prof. Collins is now planning to investigate whether the addition of sugar to enhance the effectiveness of drugs against tuberculosis (TB).
"Our goal is to improve the effectiveness of existing antibiotics, rather than create new ones, who have to travel long and expensive process," said Kyle Allison, associate Professor Collins of Boston University who is first author of the study.
