Researchers from Australia's Monash University's Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine are conducting a clinical trial to determine whether antibiotics are an effective treatment for lower back pain, according to Medical Xpress.
Here are four things to know:
1. This work has developed from the researchers' systematic review, which shows evidence of bacteria in the spines of people with lower back pain and a clinical trial conducted in Denmark which reported promising results for antibiotic treatment.
2. The trial assumes that some cases of lower back pain may be caused by an infection in the spine.
3. The team includes Donna Urquhart, PhD, Flavia Cicuttini, Anita Wluka and Molly Bond.
4. Dr. Urquhart said it is possible that one type of lower back pain which results from infection may respond to antibiotic treatment.