Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 31, 2026
08:58
Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes
Published on: March 3, 2023
8.4K
Antibiotic resistance: what, why, where, when and how?
N Sabtu1, D A Enoch1, N M Brown2
1Clinical Microbiology & Public Health Laboratory, Box 236, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge CB2 0QW, UK.
British Medical Bulletin
|October 23, 2015
Summary
Antibiotic resistance is a growing global threat. This review examines current initiatives to preserve existing antibiotics and develop new ones to combat this challenge.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat to treating bacterial, parasitic, viral, and fungal infections.
- The increasing prevalence of resistant pathogens complicates infection management and public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of antibiotic resistance development and spread.
- To discuss ongoing initiatives aimed at preserving existing antibiotics and fostering the development of new antimicrobial agents.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of peer-reviewed journal articles.
- Analysis of governmental and professional society publications.
Main Results:
- Broad consensus exists on the development, spread, reasons, and clinical impact of antibiotic resistance.
- Debate continues regarding the most effective strategies to address the escalating problem of antibiotic resistance.
Conclusions:
- Multiple local and global initiatives are underway to safeguard current antibiotics.
- Efforts are focused on encouraging the development of novel antimicrobial therapies to combat resistance.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA
102
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...
102
01:30Development of Antibiotic Resistance
1.9K
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...
1.9K
00:57Antibiotic Selection
62.1K
Overview
62.1K
01:25Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance
34
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...
34
01:31Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens
3.5K
The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
3.5K
01:28Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
882
Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
882