What is antibiotic resistance and how does it develop?

Antibiotic resistance is the ability of bacteria to resist the effects of an antibiotic they were once sensitive to.

Antibiotics are medicines used to prevent and treat bacterial infections. They work by killing bacteria or preventing them from reproducing and spreading. However, bacteria can evolve and develop resistance to these drugs, making them less effective. This phenomenon is known as antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotic resistance develops through natural selection. When a population of bacteria is exposed to an antibiotic, some of them may have a mutation that makes them less susceptible to the drug's effects. These bacteria survive and reproduce, passing on their resistance to their offspring. Over time, the population of resistant bacteria can grow, making the antibiotic less effective.

The misuse and overuse of antibiotics accelerate this process. When antibiotics are used too often or not used correctly, it gives bacteria more opportunities to evolve resistance. For example, if a course of antibiotics is not completed, some bacteria may survive and develop resistance to the drug. Similarly, using antibiotics to treat viral infections, which they are not effective against, can also contribute to antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotic resistance is a serious global health concern because it can make bacterial infections harder to treat. Infections caused by resistant bacteria can lead to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and increased mortality. Therefore, it's important to use antibiotics responsibly to slow down the development of antibiotic resistance.