Final answer:
Bacteria develop antibiotic resistance through natural selection where resistant strains survive and multiply in the presence of antibiotics, exacerbated by misuse such as not completing prescriptions and excessive use in agriculture. This leads to harder-to-treat infections and higher healthcare costs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Antibiotic resistance is a significant concern in the field of medicine as it poses a threat to the effectiveness of antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections.
Antibiotic resistance occurs through the process of natural selection, where bacteria that have gained resistance traits survive and multiply in the presence of antibiotics.
The overuse and misuse of antibiotics, including not completing a full prescription and the excessive use in livestock, have greatly contributed to this problem.
This imprudent application has led to a selection pressure where the resistant bacteria thrive and spread, becoming a common issue worldwide.
Figure 3 demonstrates the increasing concern for antibiotic resistance, illustrating how bacteria can quickly become resistant to antibiotics through various mechanisms such as mutations and gene transfer.
These evolutionary changes enable bacteria to survive antibiotic treatments, leading to infections that are harder to treat and could result in increased morbidity and healthcare costs.
It is essential to address antibiotic misuse and promote responsible practices, including the completion of prescribed antibiotic courses and limiting the use of antibiotics in livestock to control the spread of antibiotic resistance.
Understanding the mechanisms that trigger bacterial defense responses in the presence of antibiotics is crucial to combating this global health threat.