Antibiotic Resistance - Essay 3
Antibiotic resistance results from bacteria changing in ways that make those antibiotics no longer useful.
Resistance is a common yet problematic issue in treating pulmonary exacerbations or infections in people with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Not all bacteria are bad. However, there are some that can cause infections. As bacteria are exposed to antibiotics over time, resistance may develop, and the number of antibiotics we have to kill the bacteria decreases as well. Thus, it is important to learn what causes antibiotic resistance and ways to prevent it.
Antibiotic or drug resistance is the result of bacteria changing in ways that reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of drugs or other agents used to treat infections. With antibiotic resistance, bacteria are now able to survive the use of these drugs meant to kill or weaken them. This is an example of acquired resistance. Bacteria may also have intrinsic or natural resistance.
Intrinsic resistance is when bacteria are resistant to antibiotics naturally, without having prior exposure to antibiotics. This can be a problem in terms of treatment, since the number of antibiotics for these bacteria may be limited. An example of bacteria with intrinsic resistance is Burkholderia cepacia (burCOLD-air-ee-ah sa-PAY-sha).
The most common bacteria that can acquire or develop resistance is Pseudomonas aeruginosa (soo-daMOE-nus A-ridge-a-NO-sa). Pseudomonas can develop resistance to several antibiotics. Another bacteria is Staphylococcus aureus (STAFF-ee-loeKOK-us OR-i-us). When resistance develops, it is commonly called MRSA for methacillin (METH-a-SILL-in) resistant or ORSA for oxacillin (OX-aSILL-in) resistant Staphylococcus
Resistance is a common yet problematic issue in treating pulmonary exacerbations or infections in people with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Not all bacteria are bad. However, there are some that can cause infections. As bacteria are exposed to antibiotics over time, resistance may develop, and the number of antibiotics we have to kill the bacteria decreases as well. Thus, it is important to learn what causes antibiotic resistance and ways to prevent it.
Antibiotic or drug resistance is the result of bacteria changing in ways that reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of drugs or other agents used to treat infections. With antibiotic resistance, bacteria are now able to survive the use of these drugs meant to kill or weaken them. This is an example of acquired resistance. Bacteria may also have intrinsic or natural resistance.
Intrinsic resistance is when bacteria are resistant to antibiotics naturally, without having prior exposure to antibiotics. This can be a problem in terms of treatment, since the number of antibiotics for these bacteria may be limited. An example of bacteria with intrinsic resistance is Burkholderia cepacia (burCOLD-air-ee-ah sa-PAY-sha).
The most common bacteria that can acquire or develop resistance is Pseudomonas aeruginosa (soo-daMOE-nus A-ridge-a-NO-sa). Pseudomonas can develop resistance to several antibiotics. Another bacteria is Staphylococcus aureus (STAFF-ee-loeKOK-us OR-i-us). When resistance develops, it is commonly called MRSA for methacillin (METH-a-SILL-in) resistant or ORSA for oxacillin (OX-aSILL-in) resistant Staphylococcus