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Published on: 11/7/2025
What is antibiotic resistance?
Antibiotic resistance is when germs like bacteria change and become stronger, so the medicines meant to kill them don't work anymore. See below to understand more.
Wondering why antibiotic resistance occurs?
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Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria change in ways that make them stronger against the medicines we use to kill them. This means that the antibiotics, which are drugs used to fight infections caused by bacteria, might not work as well or at all.
Why It Happens:
- Overuse of Antibiotics: Using antibiotics too much or when they aren't needed can make bacteria learn how to fight back.
- Not Finishing Prescriptions: When people don't take all their medicine, some bacteria might survive and become stronger.
- Environmental Factors: Things around us, like pollution, can also help bacteria become resistant.
Why It Matters:
- Harder to Treat Infections: If antibiotics don't work, simple infections could become dangerous.
- Spreading Resistance: Resistant bacteria can spread to others, making more people at risk.
It's important to use antibiotics only when needed and as directed by a healthcare professional to help prevent resistance from getting worse.
(References)
- Dever LA, & Dermody TS. (1991). Mechanisms of bacterial resistance to antibiotics - PubMed - NIH. Archives of internal medicine, 2025137.
- Alós JI. (2015). [Antibiotic resistance: A global crisis]. Enfermedades infecciosas y microbiologia clinica, 25475657.
- Phillips I. (1983). Environmental factors contributing to antibiotic resistance. Infection control : IC, 6558025.
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