Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria evolve and become resistant to the drugs designed to kill them. This phenomenon undermines the effectiveness of antibiotics, rendering once-treatable infections difficult or even impossible to control. The development of antibiotic resistance is driven by a complex interplay of factors. The global increase in antibiotic resistance is alarming. Pathogens like Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria and carbapenem-resistant have become formidable adversaries in healthcare settings. The prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis further compounds the problem. One of the primary drivers of antibiotic resistance is the inappropriate use of antibiotics. This includes overprescribing by healthcare providers, patient demand for antibiotics when unnecessary and the widespread use of antibiotics in agriculture. These practices promote the survival of resistant bacteria and the spread of resistance genes. Accurate and timely diagnosis is crucial for effective antibiotic use. However, diagnostic tests that can rapidly identify specific pathogens and their antibiotic susceptibility profiles are often lacking. The development and implementation of advanced diagnostic tools are essential to guide targeted antibiotic therapy.
HTML PDFShare this article
Clinical Infectious Diseases: Open Access received 49 citations as per Google Scholar report
