Bacterial resistance
Bacterial Resistance refers to the ability of bacteria to withstand the effects of antibiotics that were once effective in treating or preventing bacterial infections. This phenomenon is a significant concern in the field of medicine, as it can lead to more severe or prolonged illnesses, increased mortality, and higher healthcare costs.
Mechanisms of Bacterial Resistance[edit | edit source]
Bacterial resistance can occur through several mechanisms, including mutation, conjugation, transformation, and transduction. These processes can lead to changes in the bacteria's genetic material, allowing them to resist the effects of antibiotics.
Mutation[edit | edit source]
A mutation is a change in the DNA sequence of a bacterium's genome. This can occur spontaneously or be induced by external factors such as radiation or chemicals. Some mutations can confer resistance to antibiotics, allowing the bacterium to survive and reproduce in the presence of the drug.
Conjugation[edit | edit source]
Conjugation is a process where bacteria transfer genetic material to each other through direct contact. This can allow resistance genes to spread rapidly through a bacterial population.
Transformation[edit | edit source]
In transformation, bacteria take up DNA from their environment. This DNA can include resistance genes, which can then be incorporated into the bacterium's own genome.
Transduction[edit | edit source]
Transduction involves the transfer of genetic material from one bacterium to another by a bacteriophage, a type of virus that infects bacteria. This can also lead to the spread of resistance genes.
Impact of Bacterial Resistance[edit | edit source]
Bacterial resistance can have significant impacts on public health. It can lead to increased morbidity and mortality, as infections become harder to treat. It can also lead to increased healthcare costs, as more expensive or intensive treatments are required to combat resistant infections.
Prevention and Control[edit | edit source]
Preventing and controlling bacterial resistance is a major focus of public health efforts. Strategies include prudent use of antibiotics, infection control measures in healthcare settings, and research into new antibiotics and alternative treatments.
 | This biology article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
| Bacterial resistance Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
