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Antibiotic resistance review
Antibiotic resistance review
Antibiotic resistance review
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Every year, antibiotic-resistant bacteria are threatening more and more people. As much of a problem as it is, many people are not educated on the term drug resistance. Since it is such a growing concern, it becomes confusing as to why drug resistance is occurring and what can be done to prevent it. Because drug resistance is such a health problem, determining what it is, how these bacteria can acquire the antimicrobial agents, and the possible solutions to the resistance are the types of actions that need to be taken in order to have a better understanding of how truly powerful these drug resistant bacteria are.
Drug resistance is the capability for a microbe, such as bacteria, to continue to grow even in the presence of an antimicrobial, which was meant to halt the growth or kill the microbe. In this particular instance, the antimicrobial is rendered unusable when trying to treat or cure a specific infection. As a result, the drug becomes ineffective due to the resistance that the microbe has developed toward it. The reason this occurs is because of a gene that certain microbes possess, which allow it to become resistant toward the antimicrobial. Bacteria can develop this resistance through mutations as well as when a bacteria obtains a new DNA helicase. When there is a mutated bacterium, the antimicrobial, in many cases, has a problem recognizing the genetic material of the bacteria. This being said, if the antimicrobial does not have the chance to locate the binding site on the bacterial DNA, the drug will not have the chance to act. Fluroquinolones are a perfect example of how bacteria can develop resistance through resistance. Fluroquinolones cannot bind to the enzymes DNA gyrase and Topoisomerase if these enzymes are mut...
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...ed in the case of the antibiotic known as vancomycin. In order to treat the vicious bacterium, the drug vancomycin was introduced with hope to provide a therapy for the infection. However, eventually a resistant gene toward this drug emerged and began to spread throughout hospitals. “These strains, known as vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA), we progeny of MRSA that had acquired a set of five genes that travel together as a “cassette” and confer vancomycin” (Walsh & Fishbach, 2009). Unfortunately, the enzyme located in the resistant gene of the bacteria allows the target to change, which does not permit the binding of vancomycin. Obviously MRSA and VRSA pose a huge dilemma as both bacteria can be spread fairly easily and the resistant gene is so potent that even drugs that would be considered “last resort” develop troubles when it comes to trying to treat them.
In this case, it means that the antibiotic must have been effective in initially controlling the microorganisms(Southern, P. J., & Berg, 1981).The resistance aspect is enabled by the mutation aspect of the organism’s genes and natural selection as well. Thus, the bacteria are deemed to develop natural resistance to the antibiotics, in that the supplements cannot make any physical or chemical changes to them when they are exposed to
Why do consumers purchase specific drugs for various ailments, sicknesses or diseases they might have? Why do physicians prescribe certain drugs over competitive drugs that may be available to the public? Why is it that most of us can easily name specific drugs that fit the many ailments of today’s society? On the surface the answer might be as simple as good TV advertising or radio commercials or even internet adds. The truth of matter is the major pharmaceutical manufacturers own the patents on these drugs and this gives them all of the marketing budget and muscle they need to promote the drug and control the pricing. The incentives for larger pharmaceutical companies are very enticing and as a result, they don’t mind spending the time in clinical trials and patent courts to get their drugs approved. Some will even get patents on the process by which the drug is manufactured, ensuring that no competitor can steal the drug or the process. This protects their large financial investment and nearly guarantees a large return for their investors. Many consumer rights groups claim this is nothing more than legalizing monopolies for the biggest manufacturers.
Staphylococcus aureus is a bacteria that is abundant in many places. It can even be found in some of our bodies. These bacteria are harmless as long as none of them are Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Methicillin is the name of a family of antibiotics that includes penicillin. This MRSA is the deadly superbug that has developed resistant to antibiotics. Statistics show that MRSA contributes to more US deaths than does HIV. It has become a huge threat to every country as the outbreaks can be a surprising one. This threat is caused by the evolution of the bacteria. These superbugs have evolved a resistance of antibiotics which makes them extremely difficult to treat. One article states, “In the early 1940s, when penicillin was first used to treat bacterial infections, penicillin-resistant strains of S. aureus were unknown — but by the 1950s, they were common in hospitals. Methicillin was introduced in 1961 to treat these resistant strains, and within one year, doctors had encountered methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Today, we have strains of MRSA that simultaneously resist a laundry list of different antibiotics, including vancomycin — often considered our last line of antibacterial defense.” [1]
Bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics is a major problem not only for the United States, but worldwide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012) the cause is related to “widespread overuse, as well as inappropriate use, of antibiotics that is fueling antibiotic resistance”. According to World Health Organization (2013) resistance is a global concern for several reasons; it impedes the control of infectious diseases, increases healthcare costs, and the death rate for patients with resistant bacterial infections is twice of those with non-resistant bacterial infections.
Bacterial resistance to antibiotics has presented many problems in our society, including an increased chance of fatality due to infections that could have otherwise been treated with success. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, but overexposure to these drugs give the bacteria more opportunities to mutate, forming resistant strains. Through natural selection, those few mutated bacteria are able to survive treatments of antibiotics and then pass on their genes to other bacterial cells through lateral gene transfer (Zhaxybayeva, 2011). Once resistance builds in one patient, it is possible for the strain to be transmitted to others through improper hygiene and failure to isolate patients in hospitals.
Resistance first appears in a population of bacteria through conditions that favor its selection. When an antibiotic attacks a group of bacteria, cells that are highly susceptible to the medicine will die. On the other hand, cells that have some resistance from the start or acquire it later may survive. At the same time, when antibiotics attack disease-causing bacteria, they also attack benign bacteria. This process eliminates drug-susceptible bacteria and favors bacteria that are resistant. Two things happen, populations of non-resistant and harmless bacteria are diminished, and because of the reduction of competition from these harmless and/or susceptible bacteria, resistant forms of disease-causing bacteria proliferate. As the resistant forms of the bacteria proliferate, there is more opportunity for genetic or chromosomal mutation (spontaneous DNA mutation (1)) or transformation, that comes about either through a form of microbial sex (1) or through the transference of plasmids, small circles of DNA (1), which allow bacteria to interchange genes with ease. Sometimes genes can also be t...
The ability to become reflective in practice has become a necessary skill for health professionals. This is to ensure that health professionals are continuing with their daily learning and improving their practice. Reflective practice plays a big part in healthcare today and is becoming increasingly noticed.
Pharmacokinetic has evolved over the years from being a graphic science to a systematic and is frequently used in the current clinical studies. Scientists are progressively being conscious and willing to collect relevant pharmacokinetic data by using the in vitro studies. In vitro studies will allow the safer and more predictable studies compared and results compare to in vivo studies. Interpretation of toxic side effects of all the medications can be studied via pharmacokinetics in vitro analysis.
Microorganisms that can produce genes to combat antibiotics survive and reproduce, and those that cannot die, leaving only the resistant bacteria. Resistance is very versatile and can come in many forms, including preventing the entry of the antibiotic, exporting the antibiotic, or producing enzymes that can degrade the antibiotic. Resistance also includes the ability to modify the antibiotic target, thereby rendering it useless. An example of the inactivation of antimicrobial drugs can be seen in the resistance of bacteria with a beta lactam ring structure; these bacteria have developed enzymes such as beta-lactamases that degrade and inactivate antibiotics targeting their ring structure. Some evidence exists supporting the claim that antimicrobial substances exist naturally in the environment, contributing to resistance; however, there is more evidence supporting the claim that overuse of drugs, agriculture, and many other human uses are feeding resistance. Hence, in order to prevent antibiotic resistance, the unnecessary use and the overuse of antibiotics should be limited (Holmes et al.
The Drug Abuse Resistance Education program known as D.A.R.E has become a very widespread and popular program throughout the United States. The program appeals to all ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic lines, which is a large part of the reason why the DARE program has grown exponentially. The program’s basic premise was meant to introduce kids to the danger of drugs, before the drugs got to them. The implementation of the DARE program appeared to be what America needed to begin to put a dent in the war on drugs.
My research paper is about smart drugs, how college students used them to get better grades. The pro and cons that this have and the consequences of abusing of these drugs. My thesis of my research paper is, what these students are doing to get focused, to study and memorize assignments when most of them have very short time. Maybe they use something else to perform better at school. Can it be “smart drugs?” Hurting themselves by using drugs, damaging there brain and body; but does smart drugs really make people smarter or make them dumber. I feel proud of my paper, because it was a topic that I had always want to know about. Before deciding of what was going to be about my paper I have some knowledge of smart drugs, but know I can said what
Fight The New Drug (FTND) is a nonprofit organization that “exists to provide individuals the opportunity to make an informed decision regarding pornography by raising awareness on its harmful effects using only science, facts, and personal accounts” (Fight The New Drug, 2009.) They are based on their slogan, “Porn Kills Love” meaning how viewing pornography can manipulate the brain, relationships and the way you view society and the people in it, ultimately deceiving your perception of what love with another human being actually is (Fight The New Drug, 2009.) This organization travels all over North America going to public schools, private schools, and universities, as well was sending their message globally through their social media account
...c resistance in bacteria is a problem when the antibiotic is widely used to treat diseases. Resistance to antibiotics can occur if bacteria with a changed gene is less susceptible to an antibiotic, and that antibiotic is around, the less susceptible (and more resistant) version of the bacteria is more likely to survive the antibiotic and continue to multiply. This is particularly likely to happen if the amount of antibiotic around isn't quite enough to kill all of the bacteria quickly -- as can happen if enough of the antibiotic isn’t taken as prescribed to keep its level in the body high, or if taking the antibiotic is stopped prematurely. An antibiotic must be taken exactly as prescribed and for as long as it was prescribed. Some of the targeted bacteria may still linger and continue to cause the illness (Anderson, Rosaleen Groundwater, Paul Todd, Adam (2012)).
The most effective way to combat pathogenic bacteria which invade the body is the use of antibiotics. Overexposure to antibiotics can easily lead to resistant strains of bacteria. Resistance is dangerous because bacteria can easily spread from person to person. Simple methods for preventing excessive bacterial spread are often overlooked. Not all preventative measures are even adequate. Doctors and patients often use antibiotics unnecessarily or incorrectly, leading to greater resistance. Antibiotics are used heavily in livestock and this excessive antibiotic use can create resistant bacteria and transfer them to humans. In order to reduce resistant bacteria,
For the Fall of 2018, I aim to enroll in the Ph. D. program in Quantitative and Systems Biology at the University of California, Merced. I am applying to UC Merced’s doctoral program in pursuit of a career in academic research and to prepare me with skills in order to advance my goals of becoming a professor and a researcher. While in graduate school, I hope to continue my research in the field of antibiotic resistance and to further my learning about molecular biology and its numerous applications. My interest in antibiotic resistance research stemmed from my past work on a dairy as a veterinarian assistant and was further confirmed by the summer research program I participated in. While working at the dairy, I became aware of the enormous amounts of antibiotics that were being used daily.