Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic Resistance

Subject – Science and Tech

Context –Given the ongoing pandemic, the extensive use of antibiotics to fight secondary infections or a simultaneous bacterial infection, and a significant spurt in self-medication, the antibiotic resistance pattern has worsened.

Concept –

• Antibiotic Resistance – Medicines that are used to prevent and treat bacterial infections are called Antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in response to the use of these medicines. When we say antibiotic resistance, it means bacteria are resistant to antibiotics and not humans.
• Antimicrobial Resistance – It is a broader term, encompassing resistance to drugs to treat infections caused by other microbes as well, such as parasites, viruses, and fungi.
• Antimicrobial resistance is the resistance acquired by any microorganism (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasite, etc.) against antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials, and anthelmintics) that are used to treat infections.
• As a result, standard treatments become ineffective, infections persist and may spread to others.
• Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred to as “superbugs”.
• Reasons for Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance:
  • The misuse of antimicrobials in medicine and inappropriate use in agriculture.
  • Contamination around pharmaceutical manufacturing sites where untreated waste releases large amounts of active antimicrobials into the environment.