There are several ways to increase the potency of antibiotics. One common approach is to chemically modify the antibiotic to make it more resistant to degradation and thus more effective in the body. Another approach is to use other drugs or compounds to enhance the antibiotic's ability to kill bacteria.

One example of how an antibiotic can be made more potent is the development of penicillin derivatives. Penicillin is a naturally occurring antibiotic produced by the fungus Penicillium chrysogenum. It has been used to treat bacterial infections since the 1940s. However, penicillin can be broken down by an enzyme called beta-lactamase that is produced by some bacteria. This can make penicillin ineffective in treating infections caused by these bacteria.

To overcome this problem, chemists have developed a number of penicillin derivatives that are resistant to beta-lactamase. These derivatives, such as methicillin and oxacillin, are still effective in treating infections caused by beta-lactamase-producing bacteria.

Another example of how an antibiotic can be made more potent is the use of combination therapies. Combination therapies involve using two or more different antibiotics together. This can increase the effectiveness of the antibiotics and reduce the risk of resistance developing.

For example, the antibiotic rifampin is often used in combination with other antibiotics to treat tuberculosis (TB). This combination therapy is more effective than using rifampin alone and reduces the risk of resistance developing.

By using chemical modifications and combination therapies, it is possible to make old antibiotics 100 times more potent and effective in treating bacterial infections.