Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance is the developed in microbes to survive in the presence of a chemical (drug) that would normally kill them or limit their growth. Antimicrobial resistance makes it harder to eliminate infections from the body as existing drugs become less effective.

The increasing rates of antibiotic resistant infections are caused by antibiotic use from human and veterinary medicine. Some organisms are naturally resistant but the term most often refers to acquired resistance, which can be a result of either new mutations or transfer of resistance genes between organisms. Any use of antibiotics can increase selective pressure in a population of bacteria, promoting resistant bacteria and causing vulnerable bacteria to die. As resistance to antibiotics becomes more common there is greater need for alternative treatments. Resistant microbes may require other medications or higher doses – often with more side effects, some of which may be life threatening on their own.

Related Journals of Antimicrobial Resistance

Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance, International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance, Microbial Drug Resistance, Drug Resistance Updates.