2.6.3 Antibiotics and Resistance

• What is the purpose of antibiotics?

  Treat bacterial infections
• Antibiotics combat bacterial infections through two main mechanisms: inhibiting bacterial growth and killing bacteria
• What essential processes in bacteria do antibiotics interfere with to inhibit growth?

  Cell wall synthesis or protein production
• Why does overuse and misuse of antibiotics contribute to resistance?

  Increases exposure to bacteria
• What is the goal of antibiotic stewardship?

  Responsible use of antibiotics
• What is the term for the ability of antibiotics to target bacteria without harming human cells?

  Selective toxicity
• Steps in the development of bacterial resistance to antibiotics

  1️⃣ Modification of the target

  2️⃣ Efflux pumps

  3️⃣ Enzymatic degradation

  4️⃣ Altering metabolic pathways
• Bacteria produce enzymes to break down antibiotics through a mechanism called enzymatic degradation.
• The lack of new antibiotic development has made it harder to keep up with the rise of resistant bacteria.
• Proper antibiotic stewardship involves the responsible and judicious use of antibiotics.
• Strategies to combat antibiotic resistance include developing new drugs and improving infection control measures.


  True
• Antibiotics are medicines used to treat bacterial infections
• Antibiotics work by either inhibiting bacterial growth or killing bacteria
• How do antibiotics inhibit bacterial growth?

  Interfere with essential processes
• Mechanisms of bacterial resistance development

  1️⃣ Modification of the target

  2️⃣ Efflux pumps

  3️⃣ Enzymatic degradation

  4️⃣ Altering metabolic pathways
• The lack of new antibiotic development has slowed the ability to combat resistant bacteria
• Antibiotics are medicines used to treat bacterial infections.
• Inhibiting bacterial growth involves interfering with essential processes such as cell wall synthesis or protein production.
• What is the primary mechanism that allows bacteria to rapidly spread resistance genes to other bacteria?

  Horizontal gene transfer
• Match the resistance mechanism with its description:

  Modification of the target ↔️ Bacteria alter proteins or structures targeted by antibiotics

  Efflux pumps ↔️ Bacteria pump antibiotics out of the cell

  Enzymatic degradation ↔️ Bacteria produce enzymes to break down antibiotics

  Altering metabolic pathways ↔️ Bacteria modify metabolic processes to bypass affected pathways
• Poor infection control practices contribute to the spread of resistant bacteria in healthcare settings.


  True
• Compare the impact of antibiotic-susceptible infections with resistant infections:

  1️⃣ Treatability: Effective antibiotics vs. Less effective antibiotics

  2️⃣ Morbidity and mortality: Lower risk vs. Higher risk

  3️⃣ Hospital stays: Shorter vs. Longer

  4️⃣ Healthcare costs: Lower vs. Higher
• Antibiotic stewardship involves implementing policies to ensure antibiotics are used appropriately.
• Antibiotics kill or inhibit bacterial growth without harming human cells.


  True
• Antibiotics target bacteria without harming human cells.


  True
• The key advantage of antibiotics is their selective toxicity
• Horizontal gene transfer allows bacteria to quickly spread resistance genes.

  True
• Agricultural use of antibiotics can contribute to resistance in humans.


  True
• Antibiotics work by harming human cells while killing bacteria.

  False
• Bactericidal action refers to the process of antibiotics directly destroying bacterial cells.


  True
• Overuse and misuse of antibiotics is a major driver of antibiotic resistance.


  True
• What is one process by which bacteria can share resistance genes with other bacteria?

  Conjugation
• What is one agricultural practice that contributes to antibiotic resistance?

  Antibiotic use in livestock
• What global public health threat is accelerated by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics?

  Antibiotic resistance
• What type of research is essential for overcoming antibiotic resistance mechanisms in bacteria?

  New drug development