Antibiotics are chemical compounds of natural or synthetic origin (medicines), which act in the failure of pathogenic agents to humans, or also resulting in the inhibition of their development, acting selectively on the population of microorganisms, such as the bacteria.
However, some species can show resistance to antimicrobials, occurring normally. through mutations that provide the synthesis of enzymes capable of conferring the inactivation of such substances.
This tolerance, with a genetic principle, is stabilized as genetic alterations appear to benefit the survival and maintenance of a bacterial strain.
In bacteria, the genes that confer antibiotic resistance are usually found in small strands of DNA. extrachromosomal (plasmids), transferred from one organism to another (even from different species), during the conjugation.
From generation to generation, this characteristic is then passed on, proportionally increasing the number of bacteria that have it, and reducing the concentration of organisms that do not carry this increase adaptive.
When an infectious process affects human beings, and they make use of antibiotics, the drug potential acts on the cell wall of the etiological agent (of bacteria), eliminating sensitive forms (not resistant).
We erroneously say that after an ineffective treatment, the infectious process still persists or even intensifies. This occurs due to several factors, in most cases due to non-observance of the medicated individual regarding the frequency of prescription, self-medication, or very rarely due to improper prescription.
The bacteria in this case are partially subjected to the effectiveness of the antibiotic, or its effect in situations of correct use only acts on non-resistant bacteria, with resistant ones persisting (selected by the existence of a favorable genotype) infection.
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By krukemberghe Fonseca
Graduated in Biology
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
MORAES, Paula Louredo. "Bacterial resistance to antibiotics"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/biologia/resistencia-das-bacterias-aos-antibioticos.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.
