Health Studies Institute/Antibiotics

An Excerpt From Chapter 1 of
Antibiotic and Antimicrobial Use
in Dental Practice, Second Edition

Adverse Effects of Antibiotics
Chemotherapy, by its very nature, involves contact with foreign chemicals that can potentially harm human tissues. It is estimated that approximately 5% of the individuals taking an antibiotic drug develop some form of serious reaction. The three basic types of adverse effects that can be distinguished are:

1. Direct tissue damage through toxicity;
2. Allergic reactions; and
3. Disruption of the balance of commensal microbial flora

Toxicity
The organs and tissues most subject to toxicity are the liver (hepatotoxic), kidneys (nephrotoxic), gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, blood-forming tissue, nervous system (neurotoxic), skin, teeth, and bone.

The liver metabolizes and detoxifies foreign chemicals. A chemotherapeutic or its metabolite may lead to hepatitis, while enzymatic abnormalities may damage liver cells. The kidneys act as blood filters and excrete drug metabolites that may damage kidney tissue.