ID: 2131024

Sumiya Kan
Date: 16/11/2021

Antibiotic Resistance Awareness

What is a Microbe?
Microbes or microorganisms are organisms that are not
visible to the bare eye and can only be seen under
microscopes. They may exist in their single-celled forms or
as a colony of cells. The major groups of microorganisms
are- Bacteria, Archaea, Fungi, Algae, Protozoa and Virus.
Most of these microbes are beneficial even for our health,
only some cause diseases.

How do microbes cause disease?

Microbes that cause diseases are called pathogens. The most common types of pathogens are-
viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. Pathogenesis is the process by which a disease or disorder
develops.

There are 4 stages of pathogenesis:-

* Exposure- when pathogens come in contact with the host.

* Adhesion- when they start to colonize.

* Invasion- when they evade or overcome the host’s immune response by producing toxins and
disrupting cells’ metabolic functions.

* Infection- when they cause damage to the host.

They cause infectious diseases such as; flu, TB, AIDS, etc.

What are antimicrobials?

Antimicrobials are agents or products that kill or slow the spread of microorganisms.
Antimicrobial medicines can be grouped according to the microorganisms they act primarily
against. Antimicrobials include agents such as- antibiotics (penicillin), antivirals, antifungals and
Antiparasitics.
Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when microorganisms change over time through
mutation or gene transfer between the microbes. Thus developing the ability to survive exposure
to an antimicrobial agent that was previously an effective treatment. This led microbes to no
longer respond to these agents and making infections harder to treat thus increasing the risk of
disease spread, severe illness and death.

6 main factors that causes Antimicrobial resistance:

* Over-prescription of antibiotics

* Patients not finishing the entire antibiotic course

* Overuse of antibiotics in livestock and fish farming

* Poor infection control in health care settings

* Poor hygiene and sanitation

* Absence of new antibiotics being discovered

How bacteria develop resistance towards antibiotics?

How do antibiotics work?

Antibiotics are antimicrobial agents that help stop infections caused by bacteria. They do this by
disrupting essential processes or structures in the bacterial cell, killing the bacteria or by keeping
them from copying themselves or reproducing. Many antibiotics, including penicillin, work by
attacking the cell wall of bacteria. Specifically, the drugs prevent the bacteria from synthesizing a
molecule in the cell wall called peptidoglycan, which provides the wall with the strength it needs
to survive inside the host.

The 5 basic mechanisms of antibiotic action against bacterial cells-

* Inhibition of Cell Wall Synthesis

* Inhibition of Protein Synthesis

* Alteration of Cell Membranes

* Inhibition of Nucleic Acid Synthesis

* Antimetabolite Activity (prevents the synthesis of folic acid)

How bacteria fight against antibiotics?

Antibiotics fight bacteria, however, bacteria also fight back and find new ways to survive.
Bacteria develop new cell processes that avoid using the antibiotic's target. Their defense
strategies are called resistance mechanisms.

Some of the following common defense strategies:-

* Restrict access of the antibiotics (by changing

the entryways or limiting the number of entryways
inside the bacteria cell).

* Get rid of the antibiotic (by using pumps in their

cell walls to remove antibiotic drugs that enter the cell).

* Change or destroy the antibiotics (by using

enzymes, proteins that break down the drug).

* Bypass the effects of the antibiotic ( bacteria do

this by developing new cell processes that avoid using the antibiotic’s target).

How bacteria becomes resistant?

There are two main ways that bacterial cells can acquire antibiotic resistance.
One is through mutations that occur in the DNA of the cell during replication.
Bacteria with the resistant mutations have better chances of survival against
antibiotics. So, these resistant bacteria continue to multiply, even in the
presence of antibiotics. Thus passing down the resistant gene and turning the
entire colony resistant to antibiotics. The other way that bacteria acquire
resistance is through horizontal gene transfer.

How does antibiotic resistance spread?

When a bacteria becomes resistant, antibiotic-resistant genetic
material is transferred between different bacteria cells. This transfer
is known as horizontal gene transfer. Horizontal gene transfer also
enables bacteria to respond and adapt to their environment much
more rapidly by acquiring large DNA sequences from another bacterium in a single transfer. It
can happen in three different ways: transformation, transduction
or conjugation.

Why is it important to spread awareness about antibiotic resistance?

Antibiotics are important to treat infections and have saved countless lives. However,
anytime antibiotics are used, they can cause side effects and contribute to antibiotic resistance,
one of the most urgent threats to the public's health.
Bacteria, not humans or animals, become antibiotic-resistant. These bacteria may infect humans
and animals, and the infections they cause are harder to treat than those caused by non-resistant
bacteria. Antibiotic resistance leads to higher medical costs, prolonged hospital stays, and
increased mortality.

CONCLUSION
From all the information provided above, we learned that Antibiotics are important and their
misuse causes microorganisms to become resistant. Antibiotic resistant microbes can affect any
person, at any stage of life. People receiving health care or those with weakened immune
systems are often at higher risk for getting an infection. Therefore, in order to prevent and
control the spread of antibiotic resistance, we all should take precautions against it and raise
awareness of the threat of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic use.

Ways to protect oneself from Antibiotic Resistance:-

1. Know Your Risk, Ask Questions, and Take Care.

2. Clean Your Hands.
3. Get Vaccinated.
4. Be Aware of Changes in Your Health.
5. Use Antibiotics Appropriately.
6. Practice Healthy Habits Around Animals.
7. Prepare Food Safely.
8. Stay Healthy when Traveling Abroad.

Antibiotic Awareness Week has been celebrated every year since 2007 to raise awareness about
the importance of appropriate antibiotic use throughout the year. Therefore, let’s use this
opportunity to inform people about antibiotic resistance and make this world a much more better
and healthier place for all living beings.

Spread Awareness, Stop Resistance.

References:

* 12.2: Characteristics and Steps of Infectious Diseases

* Antimicrobial resistance.
*An overview of the antimicrobial resistance mechanisms of bacteria
* 6 Factors that have caused Antibiotic Resistance
* How do antibiotics work?
* BSCI 424 Pathogenic Microbiology -- Mechanisms of Antibiotic Action and Resistance
* How Antibiotic Resistance Happens | Antibiotic/Antimicrobial Resistance
* How Bacteria Build Resistance at the Cellular Level | Online Public Health
* Antibiotic resistance
* Get Involved | Antibiotic Use