A new study reveals promising hope for millions of people suffering from chronic back pain, showing that an injection of antibiotic gel into the spine may help relieve pain, and perhaps even eliminate it for extended periods.
Back pain is one of the most widespread health problems in the world, with millions of people suffering from chronic pain that affects their daily lives and ability to work. Much of it is attributed to herniated discs resulting from the erosion of the spinal discs with age, and the pressure it causes on the nerves.
Treatment for these conditions usually includes painkillers and physical therapy, and sometimes surgical intervention, but the results are not always sufficient for all patients.
Over the past fifteen years, researchers have put forward a new hypothesis linking chronic back pain to a bacterium known as Cutibacterium acnes, a type of bacteria associated with acne, which has been found in damaged spinal discs in a number of patients.
Previous studies have shown that up to 40% of herniated disc cases may be linked to this bacterium, and that long-term antibiotic treatment has helped some patients improve their condition, despite the accompanying side effects and risks related to drug resistance.
In this context, a British company called Persica Pharmaceuticals developed an injectable gel called PP353, which contains a low dose of the antibiotic linezolid, and is injected directly into the affected disc to ensure that the treatment reaches the site of inflammation and to reduce side effects.
After injection, the gel hardens inside the disc, helping to eliminate the bacteria causing the infection and prevent its spread.
The study, which is scheduled to be published in the Lancet eClinicalMedicine journal, included volunteers from several countries, including the United Kingdom, Spain, New Zealand and Denmark, who received two injections a few days apart. Some of them were able to return to work and engage in daily and sports activities after their condition improved, as 18 patients recorded a significant improvement in pain levels that lasted for up to a full year, according to results published exclusively in Good Health.
The results showed a decrease in reliance on regular painkillers from 80% to 50% among patients who received the treatment, and the use of strong opioid medications, known for their addictive potential, was reduced by more than half. In contrast, no similar improvement was observed among volunteers who received a placebo.
The company is currently seeking to expand the scope of trials in cooperation with major pharmaceutical companies, in preparation for obtaining official approvals to use the treatment in medical practice.
Despite these encouraging results, the bacterial hypothesis remains controversial in scientific circles, as a previous study showed no clear difference between antibiotics and placebo in treating chronic back pain.
Several specialists confirm that traditional treatments, such as physiotherapy and steroid injections, are still effective for most patients, while warning against the overuse of antibiotics due to the risk of bacterial resistance.
Other experts believe that the improvement in patients may be due to the anti-inflammatory properties of the drug used, and not necessarily to its direct effect on bacteria.
Based on current data, this injection remains a promising research step that requires further studies before it can be approved as a treatment for chronic back pain.
