Final answer:
Antibiotic-resistant pathogens can emerge due to factors such as overuse and misuse of antimicrobials, subtherapeutic dosing, and patient noncompliance with treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Antibiotic-resistant pathogens can emerge due to several factors:
- Overuse and misuse of antimicrobials: When antibiotics are used excessively or inappropriately, bacteria can develop resistance to them. This can occur when antibiotics are prescribed unnecessarily or when patients do not finish their full course of treatment.
- Subtherapeutic dosing: Giving antibiotics in lower than recommended doses can lead to the survival of bacteria that are resistant to the lower dose. These resistant bacteria can then multiply and cause infection.
- Patient noncompliance: When patients do not follow the recommended course of treatment, it can lead to the survival of bacteria that are resistant to the antibiotic being used.