Antibiotic resistance is a big problem that helps bacteria survive and make us sick. This resistance makes it hard to treat infections. Let’s look at some important ways bacteria resist antibiotics.
Key Ways Bacteria Become Resistant:
Enzymatic Breakdown: Some bacteria make special proteins called β-lactamases. These proteins can break down certain antibiotics, called β-lactams. In fact, about 90% of a group of bacteria known as Enterobacteriaceae can do this, which makes them more harmful.
Efflux Pumps: Bacteria can use pumps to push out antibiotics. For example, 70% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria use these pumps to resist antibiotics.
Changing Targets: Sometimes, bacteria change the parts of themselves that antibiotics attack. For instance, half of the Streptococcus pneumoniae strains have changed their penicillin-binding proteins. This change helps them resist the antibiotic.
Biofilm Creation: Many harmful bacteria, like Staphylococcus aureus, can form slimy layers called biofilms. These biofilms protect the bacteria from antibiotics and make them even more dangerous. Biofilms are involved in about 65% of long-lasting infections.
In short, antibiotic resistance helps bacteria survive against medicines that should kill them. This resistance also makes infections harder to treat, which is a huge challenge for doctors.
Antibiotic resistance is a big problem that helps bacteria survive and make us sick. This resistance makes it hard to treat infections. Let’s look at some important ways bacteria resist antibiotics.
Key Ways Bacteria Become Resistant:
Enzymatic Breakdown: Some bacteria make special proteins called β-lactamases. These proteins can break down certain antibiotics, called β-lactams. In fact, about 90% of a group of bacteria known as Enterobacteriaceae can do this, which makes them more harmful.
Efflux Pumps: Bacteria can use pumps to push out antibiotics. For example, 70% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria use these pumps to resist antibiotics.
Changing Targets: Sometimes, bacteria change the parts of themselves that antibiotics attack. For instance, half of the Streptococcus pneumoniae strains have changed their penicillin-binding proteins. This change helps them resist the antibiotic.
Biofilm Creation: Many harmful bacteria, like Staphylococcus aureus, can form slimy layers called biofilms. These biofilms protect the bacteria from antibiotics and make them even more dangerous. Biofilms are involved in about 65% of long-lasting infections.
In short, antibiotic resistance helps bacteria survive against medicines that should kill them. This resistance also makes infections harder to treat, which is a huge challenge for doctors.