Antibiotics and Antimicrobials as Immunomodulators

Infectious processes are by nature immunomodulatorsImmunomodulators through their effect on their host. Antimicrobial agents are drugs designed primarily to directly kill pathogens or to inhibit their reproduction or growth. However, many of these agents have additional immunomodulatoryImmunomodulatory effects, direct and indirect, due to common pathways and structural similarities between pathogens and humans. Dermatologists are amongst the top prescribers of antimicrobial agents and often utilize antimicrobials for their immunomodulatoryImmunomodulatory actions. This chapter will review the immunomodulatory effects of antibioticsAntibiotics, antifungalAntifungal, and antiparasiticAntiparasitic agents as well their current uses in dermatologyDermatology.