Anti-Microbial resistance

ANTI-MICROBIAL RESISTANCE: A THREAT TO THE WORLD

INTRODUCTION

The most important problem associated with infectious diseases today is the rapid development of antibiotic resistance. Antimicrobial resistance refers to the relative or complete lack of effect of an antimicrobial agent against a previously susceptible microbe. In terms of sensitivity, it is an increase in minimum inhibitory concentration.

Types of Resistance

INTRINSIC RESISTANCE: This is natural and due to the following:

  • Lacking targets for Drugs: for instance, lacking a cell wall makes bacteria resistant to penicillin which targets cell wall synthesis.
  • Innate efflux pumping of Drugs: Here, drugs are blocked from accumulating in cells to exert their effect.
  • Drug inactivation:  This is done by enzymes possessed by some microorganisms that break down the drug into an inactive form.

 

ACQUIRED RESISTANCE: The microbes achieve this as they encounter different antimicrobials and is due to:   

  • Mutations: This refers to the change in the DNA structure of the gene. Often mutants have reduced susceptibility.
  • Transfer of plasmids which carry resistant genes (r-genes) called R-plasmids from one bacterium to another, transferring resistance mechanism between a donor and a recipient bacterium. 

Much of the drug resistance encountered in clinical practice is plasmid-mediated.

 

SOME APPROACHES TO SOLVE RESISTANCE PROBLEMS

  • Administration of antibiotics prescription only if the clinical signs and tests indicate that certain bacteria are the most probable cause of infection.
  • Bacteriologic diagnosis must be sought, and susceptibility tests must be determined.
  • Avoid the usage of antibiotics which have known resistance in one population.
  • Reduce the usage of topical antibiotics; use antiseptics instead.
  • Limit the period of consuming antibiotics.

 

CONCLUSION

To fight anti-microbial resistance, we need to change how we view disease and treat patients. More research should be done to find out how the different virulence factors of micro-organisms aiding them to cause disease can be inhibited.

Gordon kibulya Ahaisibwe

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