Final answer:
A bacterium unaffected by antibiotics is considered resistant. The modified drug in the example would be semisynthetic. The overuse and incorrect use of antibiotics contributes to the increase of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, posing health challenges.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term “resistant” suggests that the bacteria can survive and even thrive in the presence of the antibiotic, thanks to specific mutations or acquired mechanisms that allow it to evade the effects of the drug. This is a significant concern in healthcare because it can lead to the spread of antibiotic-resistant infections, making them more difficult to treat. About the scientist’s discovery and alteration of the antimicrobial compound, the new version of the antimicrobial drug with broad-spectrum activity that can kill both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria would be considered semisynthetic. A 'semisynthetic' antimicrobial is chemically modified from a naturally occurring antibiotic to enhance its properties or efficacy. Antibiotic resistance is one of the world's most pressing health concerns. It emerges due to overuse and incorrect use of antibiotics, such as not completing a full course of prescribed antibiotics, which leads to the natural selection of resistant strains of bacteria. As a result, the proportion of resistant bacteria increases over non-resistant varieties, and these antibiotic-resistant strains pose serious challenges in the treatment of infections.