Final answer:
The three major bacterial mechanisms of resistance to penicillin and its derivatives are penicillinase production, target modification, and drug modification or inactivation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three major bacterial mechanisms of resistance to penicillin and its derivatives are:
- Penicillinase production: Some strains of bacteria develop resistance by producing an enzyme called penicillinase, which breaks down penicillin and renders it ineffective.
- Target modification: Bacteria can develop resistance by modifying the target of penicillin, such as the penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) in the cell wall. This modification prevents penicillin from binding and inhibiting cell wall synthesis.
- Drug modification or inactivation: Bacteria may develop resistance by producing enzymes that modify or destroy penicillin, making it inactive. This mechanism is commonly seen with ß-lactamases, enzymes that hydrolyze the ß-lactam ring of penicillin.