Question

What is currently happening with antibiotics and bacteria? Why has it happened? How does natural selection play a role? What can you do to curb it?

Answer 1

In the present day, the use of antibiotics has increased much fold resulting in the bacterial strain getting resistant to the antibiotic drugs. This happens because of the excessive use of antibodies that allows the bacterial strain to get resistant to the particular antibiotic. Along with this, the bacteria are getting resistant to the antibiotics because of the process of natural selection.

The strains of bacteria get resistant by two ways which are by mutation or by the process of DNA swap in which they transfer the resistance gene. This has resulted in certain conditions that have become lethal and the drugs available does not kill the bacteria and they proliferate. This happens by spontaneous mutations that bacteria undergo or by the DNA swap which results in non-binding of the antibiotic to the protein which alters the functioning of the bacterium. This is happening because of the excessive misuse of the antibiotics. it is estimated that the 50 million prescriptions made in the US out of 250 prescriptions were not necessary and was needed.

The process of natural selection is responsible for the bacteria becoming antibiotic resistant but since the process is slow and takes place over a period of time and is not solely responsible for it. The process of mutation and natural selection is the driving force of evolution and they may also result in bacteria with proteins which are non-functional along with aid in resistant bacterial strains.

The situation can get worse in the coming time, to get a check on this, we should keep a check on few points.

• The use of the antibiotics should be slowed down and should not take it if not needed.
• The doctors and healthcare professionals should not prescribe them until it is necessary and should not be prescribed for viral infections as are being prescribed.
• The prescribed antibiotic course should be completed and should not be left in between.
• The use of particular antibiotics in the agriculture sector should be given to cure the certain nfection, as the livestock and the crop are the key factors in contributing towards antibiotic resistant strains.