Question

What does it mean if an organism is "antibiotic resistant"? Why/how is this a modern day problem?

Answer 1

Antibiotics are drugs that are used to prevent infections caused by bacteria. As a process of natural evolution, bacteria change their response and become resistant to the antibiotic. This is known as antibiotic resistance.

Although mutations occur naturally, the process of antibiotic resistance is increasing due to misuse and overuse of antibiotics. Each time antibiotics are used few bacteria fight and survive to reproduce to thrive which are not susceptible to that antibiotic.

If bacteria which are resistant to multi-antibiotics spread, it will be very difficult to carry out medical interventions such as organ transplantation, chemotherapies, pre-term care as the chances of bacterial infections are high as the person’s immunity weakens.