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Antibiotics and bacterial resistance. A few elements of genetic basis for this relationship
M Străuţ1, M Surdeanu, G Oprişan
1Cantacuzino Institute, Bucharest, Romania.
Abstract:
In the preantibiotic era, many people died of bacterial infections caused by such pathogens as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Antibiotics have reduced the mortality from infectious diseases but not the prevalence of these diseases. It was not long after the clinical introduction of the first antibiotics in the 1950s that the first reports of bacterial resistance began to appear. Use, and often abuse or misuse, of antimicrobial agents has encouraged the evolution of bacteria toward resistance, resulting often in therapeutic failure. In the beginning, new antibiotics have always appeared in plenty of time to provide new cures for diseases caused by resistant bacterial pathogens. Also, some clinically important groups of bacteria showed no signs of major increases in resistance. For example, S. pneumoniae strains remained susceptible to penicillin long after other bacteria had become resistant to it. Recent developments of bacteria resistance to antibiotics are indeed disquieting.
Insights
Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a growing concern. Despite the development of new antibiotics, the increasing misuse of these drugs is leading to widespread resistance and treatment failures.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Bacterial infections were a major cause of mortality before the advent of antibiotics.
- Antibiotics significantly reduced deaths from infectious diseases but did not eliminate their prevalence.
- The emergence of antibiotic resistance was observed shortly after the introduction of antibiotics in the 1950s.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the historical context of bacterial infections and antibiotic development.
- To discuss the evolution of bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
- To emphasize the current disquieting trends in antibiotic resistance.
Main Methods:
- Historical review of antibiotic use and resistance.
- Analysis of bacterial pathogen susceptibility patterns over time.
- Examination of factors contributing to the rise of antibiotic resistance.
Main Results:
- While new antibiotics were developed, widespread use and misuse of antimicrobial agents accelerated bacterial resistance.
- Some bacteria, like Streptococcus pneumoniae, initially showed prolonged susceptibility to certain antibiotics (e.g., penicillin).
- Recent trends indicate a disquieting increase in bacterial resistance to antibiotics, leading to therapeutic failures.
Conclusions:
- The continuous evolution of bacterial resistance poses a significant threat to public health.
- Responsible antimicrobial stewardship is crucial to mitigate the development and spread of antibiotic resistance.
- Ongoing research and development of novel antimicrobial strategies are essential to combat resistant pathogens.