Final answer:
Correct option b) Tuberculosis, Bacterial antibiotic resistance is a significant cause of the rise in tuberculosis cases, due to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in human medicine and agriculture, resulting in resistant strains that complicate infection treatment and incur high healthcare costs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Genetic resistance by bacteria to many of the most effective antibiotics is one of the reasons why tuberculosis is on the rise. This is due to the excessive and imprudent use of antibiotics leading to the natural selection of resistant forms of bacteria. Such misuse occurs not only in human medicine, where antibiotics are often prescribed unnecessarily or not completed as directed, but also in agriculture where antibiotics are given to livestock. These practices have contributed to an increase in the proportion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can be easily transferred to humans and complicate the treatment of various infections.
Bacterial antibiotic resistance causes serious global health threats as it hampers the treatment of infections leading to potential treatment failures and increased mortality rates, with the Center for Disease Control estimating the direct costs associated with hospital infections up to $45 billion annually. Fighting these superbugs has become a major challenge as more bacterial strains become resistant to the available antibiotics, necessitating the development of new treatments and stricter control over antibiotic use.