Antibiotic resistant bacteria

• Antibiotic resistant bacteria


  Bacteria that have developed resistance to antibiotics through natural mutations in their genetic material
• Development of antibiotic resistant bacteria

  1. Bacteria reproduce rapidly

  2. Some bacteria develop natural mutations that make them resistant to antibiotics

  3. Resistant bacteria survive and reproduce when antibiotics are used

  4. Resistant strains of bacteria spread rapidly as they are not affected by antibiotics
• Antibiotics are no longer effective against new resistant strains of pathogens
• More types of bacteria are becoming resistant to more antibiotics, so bacterial diseases are becoming more difficult to treat
• Preventing development of antibiotic resistant bacteria

  1. Avoid overusing antibiotics

  2. Finish full course of antibiotics to kill all bacteria

  3. Restrict agricultural use of antibiotics
• MRSA is an example of an antibiotic resistant bacteria that spread in hospitals due to overuse of antibiotics and poor hygiene
• Measures to reduce spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria in hospitals

  1. Use antibiotics only when necessary

  2. Use specific antibiotics for specific bacteria

  3. Improve hand hygiene and sterilization of medical staff and equipment

  4. Isolate infected patients
• Simple measures can significantly reduce deaths from antibiotic resistant bacteria
• Scientists are constantly searching for new antibiotics, but it is difficult and slow to develop new ones that can kill resistant bacteria without harming human cells
• It is unlikely that new antibiotics will be developed fast enough to keep up with the development of new antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria