By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - There could be a new method for improving antibiotic treatments.

According to a report in the journal Nature specific factors produced by mice that regulate their response to infection are shown to work with antibiotics to shorten the time and effects of bacterial infection.

So called specialized pro-resolving mediators or spms are directly involved in helping fight infections in mice. The spms improve infection-related symptoms, increase clearance of infectious bacteria and increase survival.

Researchers found that giving antibiotics together with spms resulted in accelerated resolution of infection compared with that seen with either spms or antibiotics alone.