Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance

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Antibiotics are substances produced by micro-organisms that kill or prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi.

Antibiotic Resistance

How Resistance Develops:

When an antibiotic is first used, it kills all of the bacteria in an organism.
Over time, a mutation may occur in one bacterium, making it resistant to that antibiotic.
The gene for antibiotic resistance is found on the plasmid of the bacterium.
As the antibiotic-sensitive bacteria are killed, the resistant bacteria survive, replicate and spread the resistance gene.

Multi-Resistant Bacteria:

Some bacteria has developed resistance to most, if not all, antibiotics.
These are called multi-resistant bacteria, such as MRSA (commonly known as a 'superbug').

Causes of Antibiotic Resistance:

Over-prescription of antibiotics by doctors.
Failure to complete the full course of antibiotics by patients.
Overuse of antibiotics in animal feed, which can lead to the development of resistant strains in livestock.

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