Antibiotics and Resistance

Humans and Bacteria

  • Humans are composed of trillions of human cells and trillions of bacteria.

  • Bacteria reside on our skin and in our guts.

  • Bacteria aid in food digestion and protect against intruders.

  • Some bacteria can be harmful, causing life-threatening diseases.

Antibiotics

  • Discovery of antibiotics was initially beneficial.

  • Antibiotics are naturally produced by fungi and bacteria and adapted for medical use.

  • Antibiotics target bacteria without harming human cells.

  • They used to make deadly diseases easily curable.

  • Antibiotics have enabled medical advancements like safe surgeries and transplants.

Antibiotic Resistance

  • Some bacteria survive antibiotic treatment due to antibiotic resistance.

  • Even before antibiotic exposure, some bacteria possess a resistance gene.

  • These bacteria survive when antibiotics are introduced because of this protecting gene.

  • Antibiotic resistance: when some bacteria resist antibiotics.

Origins of Resistance Genes

  • Resistance genes appear due to random mutations during bacterial division.

  • Mutations are typically neutral, but rarely, a mutation results in a resistance gene.

  • Bacteria can exchange genes; rarely, a resistance gene is swapped.

  • Even with very rare occurrences, the high number and quick division rate of bacteria mean resistance genes exist for each new antibiotic.

  • Gene swapping can transfer resistance to disease-causing bacteria.

Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance

  • Antibiotic use increases the significance of random resistance events.

  • Antibiotics eliminate sensitive bacteria, allowing resistant bacteria to thrive and increase in proportion.

  • Resistant bacteria spread easily, increasing their prevalence with antibiotic use.

  • This leads to the evolution of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Addressing Antibiotic Resistance

  • Knowledge about bacteria is used to create new drugs.

  • New drugs could focus on preventing disease from harmfull bacteria without killing them.

  • Even if resistance appears, resistant bacteria won't have any surviving advantage to the sensetive one.

  • The proportions of the drug-resistant bacteria will remain low.

Current Strategies

  • Limit antibiotic use to necessary situations and minimal amounts.

  • This will slow the rise of resistant bacteria until new discoveries are made.