Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026
11:17
Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses
Published on: August 30, 2018
Microbial resistance to drug therapy: a review
1School of Nursing, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville 62026-1066, USA.
American Journal of Infection Control
|February 1, 1997
Summary
Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global threat affecting bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. Understanding its complex causes and mechanisms is crucial for developing effective strategies against this public health challenge.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Microbial resistance to antimicrobials is increasingly prevalent.
- Resistance is observed across various microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites.
- This phenomenon is multifaceted, involving interactions between the microorganism, environment, and patient.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a historical perspective on microbial resistance.
- To discuss the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance.
- To review current strategies and recommendations for addressing antimicrobial resistance.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of historical data and current research on microbial resistance.
- Analysis of resistance mechanisms in various microbial types.
- Examination of resistance in both hospital and community settings.
Main Results:
- Bacterial resistance is the most common form, but resistance in other microbes is also significant.
- Resistance can be an intrinsic trait or acquired during therapy.
- Major organisms with significant resistance problems are identified.
Conclusions:
- Antimicrobial resistance is a complex, evolving challenge requiring comprehensive strategies.
- Addressing resistance necessitates a multi-pronged approach considering various settings and microbial types.
- Existing guidelines and future recommendations are essential for combating resistance.
More Related Videos
11:15Quadruple-Checkerboard: A Modification of the Three-Dimensional Checkerboard for Studying Drug Combinations
Published on: July 24, 2021
08:58Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes
Published on: March 3, 2023
Related Concept Videos
02:56Treatment Resistant Cancers
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
01:31Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens
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...
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...
01:21Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics
Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine by saving countless lives from bacterial infections. However, their widespread use has inadvertently harmed the delicate balance of the human gut microbiota. The gut microbiota, a complex community of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi, plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, immune responses, and maintaining intestinal health. Antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum types, disrupt this ecosystem by eradicating both harmful and beneficial...
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...