Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
11:15
Quadruple-Checkerboard: A Modification of the Three-Dimensional Checkerboard for Studying Drug Combinations
Published on: July 24, 2021
Strategies to minimize antibiotic resistance
Chang-Ro Lee1, Ill Hwan Cho, Byeong Chul Jeong
1Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, 116 Myongjiro, Yongin, Gyeonggido 449-728, Korea. crlee@mju.ac.kr
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|September 17, 2013
Summary
Reducing antibiotic resistance requires prudent antibiotic use guided by antimicrobial stewardship programs and data. Public education and controlled use in animals are crucial for preserving antibiotic effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health threat.
- Prudent antibiotic use is essential to combat resistance.
- Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) provide guidelines for optimal antibiotic use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline strategies for reducing antibiotic resistance.
- To emphasize the importance of antimicrobial stewardship and education.
- To highlight the role of various data in guiding antibiotic therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of antimicrobial stewardship principles.
- Analysis of factors influencing antibiotic resistance.
- Emphasis on educational strategies for healthcare professionals and the public.
- Consideration of antibiotic development and use in food animals.
Main Results:
- Prudent antibiotic use, guided by data (PK/PD, diagnostics, AST, clinical response, microbiota effects), is key.
- Controlled antibiotic use in food animals is vital.
- Education on bacterial infections, antibiotics, and hygiene is recommended for all societal members.
Conclusions:
- Minimizing antibiotic resistance necessitates a societal effort.
- Concerted actions are required to ensure the continued efficacy of antibiotics.
- Effective antimicrobial stewardship and public awareness are fundamental to controlling resistance.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA
Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
01:25Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
01:30Development of Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern that arises when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotic treatments. This resistance can be intrinsic, acquired through genetic mutations, or transferred between bacteria via horizontal gene transfer. The development of antibiotic resistance poses significant challenges in treating bacterial infections and necessitates ongoing research to develop new therapeutic strategies.Intrinsic resistance occurs when bacterial...
00:57Antibiotic Selection
Overview
01:27Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism
Synergism is a useful mechanism where combining two or more drugs is more effective than each constituent used alone. Such combinations are also called supra-additive interactions. The drugs collectively enhance the final therapeutic effect by acting on different targets. Another advantage is that the low dose of each constituent drug is sufficient to achieve the desired effect. This helps reduce the duration of therapy and lower the adverse effects of these drugs.
Such synergistic combinations...
Such synergistic combinations...
01:29Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth
Microbial growth control refers to various methods employed to inhibit, reduce, or eliminate microorganisms to ensure safety and hygiene across different settings. These methods are categorized based on the target environment and the level of microbial control required.Biocides are versatile agents designed to control microorganisms by either inhibiting their growth or outright killing them. These agents work through various physical, chemical, mechanical, or biological mechanisms. The...