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Uploaded by on Aug 13, 2010

Antibiotic resistance is a type of drug resistance where a microorganism has developed the ability to survive exposure to an antibiotic. Genes can be transferred between bacteria in a horizontal fashion by conjugation, transduction, or transformation. Thus a gene for antibiotic resistance which had evolved via natural selection may be shared. Evolutionary stress such as exposure to antibiotics then selects for the antibiotic resistant trait. Many antibiotic resistance genes reside on plasmids, facilitating their transfer. If a bacterium carries several resistance genes, it is called multiresistant or, informally, a superbug.The primary cause of antibiotic resistance is antibiotic use both within medicine and veterinary medicine. The greater the duration of exposure the greater the risk of the development of resistance irrespective of the severity of the need for antibiotics.
he widespread use of antibiotics both inside and outside of medicine is playing a significant role in the emergence of resistant bacteria.[1] They are often used in animals but also in other industries which at least in the case of agricultural use lead to the spread of resistant strains to human populations. In some countries antibiotics are sold over the counter without a prescription which compounds the problem. In human medicine the major problem of the emergence of resistant bacteria is due to misuse and overuse of antibiotics by doctors as well as patients.[2] Other practices contributing towards resistance include the addition of antibiotics to the feed of livestock.[3][4] Household use of antibacterials in soaps and other products, although not clearly contributing to resistance, is also discouraged (as not being effective at infection control).[5] Also unsound practices in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry can contribute towards the likelihood of creating antibiotic resistant strains.[6]
Certain antibiotic classes are highly associated with colonisation with superbugs compared to other antibiotic classes. The risk for colonisation increases if there is a lack of sensitivity (resistance) of the superbugs to the antibiotic used and high tissue penetration as well as broad spectrum activity against "good bacteria". In the case of MRSA, increased rates of MRSA infections are seen with glycopeptides, cephalosporins and especially quinolones. In the case of colonisation with C difficile the high risk antibiotics include cephalosporins and in particular quinolones and clindamycin.
A day after the Government slammed The Lancet report on NDM-1, the drug-resistant "superbug" originating from India, lead researcher of the study Prof Timothy R Walsh of Cardiff University said the government should instead investigate the matter and recognise this health threat.

"We are unhappy about the personal attacks after this report," Walsh told The Indian Express from Cardiff, "but we want to make clear that Lancet is not in the habit of publishing rubbish. The conclusions that we draw are rational and well-balanced."

Countering the criticism over naming the bug after New Delhi — New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1 — Walsh said that this wasn't an unusual practice.

"We named the bacteria NDM-1 because the original patient who was investigated had flown back to Sweden from India with the infection. It was known that the origin of the infection was India and not Sweden. (It was) in the tradition of naming these types of bacteria after the city of origin," he said.

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  • Bovine spongiform encephalopathy ( mad cow disease ) & foot and mouth diseases was first discovered in United kingdom, how come it was not named after London ?? it is simple "DOUBLE STANDARD" protecting your self interest. There is a latest news from US today , Three of the American patient's was contacted so called " NDM1 SUPER BUg" was successfully treated with very old antibiotic called COLISTIN & TIGECYCLINE. So stop your scare tactic and " Don't Make a Mountain Out of a Molehills"

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