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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes
Published on: March 3, 2023
Update on the antibacterial resistance crisis
Arthur C Croft1, Anthony V D'Antoni, Stephanie L Terzulli
1Spine Research Institute of San Diego, Spring Valley, CA 91978, USA. drcroft@srisd.com
Abstract:
This nation--and in fact the world--is currently facing a crisis in the form of a growing antibacterial drug resistance. In the 60 or so years since the discovery of penicillin, physicians and pharmaceutical companies have been constantly challenged to stay a step ahead of the bacteria that constantly adapt to the drugs used to control them. These magic bullets were at one time expected to eliminate the concern over infectious disease and have been relied upon heavily. But their effectiveness has been steadily waning in recent years as, more and more, strains of bacteria emerge that are resistant to multiple drugs and, in some cases, have become nearly "panresistant." Nosocomial infections with these resistant strains were once confined to hospitals but new community-acquired infections are an ominous portent. Meanwhile, perhaps equally as distressing, many pharmaceutical companies are discontinuing efforts to develop new antimicrobial drugs for a variety of reasons and few new agents are currently in the pipeline. The selective pressure triggering these bacterial mutations are complex, but they can be shared by healthcare workers, hospitals, long-term care facilities, the agriculture industry, and even healthcare consumers themselves. In this paper, these topics are discussed, in turn, and the paper concludes with an apologia for change that can and should be equally shared by these stakeholders.
Insights
Antibacterial drug resistance is a growing global crisis, with evolving bacteria becoming resistant to multiple drugs. This necessitates shared responsibility among healthcare, agriculture, and consumers to combat this public health threat.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Public Health
- Pharmacology
Background:
- The discovery of penicillin ushered in an era of effective infectious disease control.
- Bacterial adaptation has led to increasing resistance against previously effective antimicrobial drugs.
- Emergence of multidrug-resistant and panresistant bacterial strains poses a significant public health challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss the escalating crisis of antibacterial drug resistance.
- To examine the factors contributing to the development of resistant bacterial strains.
- To advocate for shared responsibility in addressing antimicrobial resistance.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical trends in antibacterial drug development and efficacy.
- Analysis of factors contributing to bacterial resistance.
- Discussion of the roles of various stakeholders in the resistance crisis.
Main Results:
- Effectiveness of antimicrobial drugs has waned due to bacterial adaptation.
- Resistant bacterial infections are increasingly prevalent in both hospital-acquired and community-acquired settings.
- Pharmaceutical industry's declining interest in developing new antimicrobial agents exacerbates the problem.
Conclusions:
- Antibacterial drug resistance is a complex issue driven by multifaceted selective pressures.
- Healthcare workers, facilities, the agriculture industry, and consumers all play a role in driving resistance.
- A collaborative, shared approach is essential to combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.
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