Introduction
Genes are carriers of hereditary information to ensure that the attributes of a species are carried from a parent cell to a daughter cell. Genes operate through cells and their effect is therefore more defined in single celled organisms such as microbes than in multi-cellular organisms such as humans (Jamhour et al, 2017). Whereas genes are designed to maintain characteristics as aforesaid, they will sometimes undergo changes, through a process known as gene mutation. In a multicellular organism such as a human being, gene mutations can change some minor or major attributes (Spellberg et al, 2013). However, in microbes, even a singular gene mutation can result in an absolute transformation of major characteristics of the organism. This transformation will then be passed on to the daughter cells thus perpetuating the change. In an environment where only the mutated organisms can survive or thrive, the new version of the microbe will gradually become the majority (Spellberg et al, 2013). This is how microbes develop a resistance to adverse effects in their environment such as antibiotics and it is the development if this resistance that forms the core of this research paper.
Overview of Bacteria and the Antibiotic
The microbe bacteria is one of the oldest forms of life on earth and currently one of the most abundant in numbers and variety (Spellberg et al, 2013). It is estimated that there are about 40 million bacteria for every random gram of soil thus the number of bacteria in the world is near infinite. Due to the vastness of the variety of bacteria available, they can live almost in any habitat from the human body, soil, acidic solutes, hot springs and even radioactive waste. Not all bacteria are harmful and some are indeed beneficial to the human body. However, those that happen to be harmful can be extremely dangerous hence the advent of bacteriology to try and understand bacteria and how to combat them (Spellberg et al, 2013).
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Before the 20th century, bacteria based infections and epidemics used to ravage the earth with abandon until the populace developed a form of natural immunity to the particular infection (Jamhour et al, 2017). In some instances, the number of deaths would be in millions. In 1928 however, Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming using research that had started in the 19th century developed Penicillin the first known cure for bacterial infections (Jamhour et al, 2017). The major success of Penicillin led to more kindred research and by mid-20th century, several antibiotic regimens had turned the tide on the deadlines of bacterial infections (Jamhour et al, 2017). Indeed, even some of the most feared bacterial infections such as syphilis caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum became treatable. This was a major medical feat.
The advent of Antibiotic Resistant Microbes
It can be said that the advent of antibiotic resistant microbes was brought about by the fear of bacterial infections combined by the abundance of readily available and cheap antibiotics. By definition, antibiotic resistance is said to occur when a strain of microbes, mostly bacteria but sometimes protozoa, cannot be effectively controlled through an antibiotic that had erstwhile been able to control it (Spellberg et al, 2013). There are three ways in which resistance can be created. The first two are through natural acquisition of resistance, through gene mutation and through interaction with bacteria that is resistant to the antibiotic. The most common form of development of antibiotic resistance is however gene mutations caused by misuse of antibiotics (Spellberg et al, 2013).
How Resistance Grow
The most effective and recommended way to treat bacterial infections in human is by using the simplest possible yet effective antibiotic to treat it (Jamhour et al, 2017). This is based on an understanding that when an antibiotic is unable to combat an infection, doctors can result to a more advanced antibiotic. Bacterial culture test is one of the recommended ways of finding out what antibacterial treatment is ideal for which infection (Jamhour et al, 2017). Unfortunately, bacterial culture testing is in most cases more expensive than most antibacterial. This has resulted in people self-prescribing antibacterial and sometimes overdosing, under dosing or even failing to complete doses (Jamhour et al, 2017). It is this misuse and abuse of antibiotics that has contributed to the development of antibiotic resistance through gradual gene mutation. Another common culprit for the advent of antibacterial resistance is meat and kindred products more so in the USA (Ronquillo & Hernandez, 2017). Almost all domesticated animals are treated using antibiotics whether they are sick or not. In many cases, the antibiotics are mixed with their food and drinks in unregulated proportions. This ensures that all animal product consumers are also consumers of different types of antibiotics (Ronquillo & Hernandez, 2017).
Development of Antibiotic Resistance
The presence of small and irregular doses of antibiotics in the body presented through the means outlined above kill some of the bacteria in the body but not all (Ronquillo & Hernandez, 2017). Those that survive may do so because their particular strain is able to withstand small and irregular doses of antibiotics. With time, the weaker antibiotics are gradually eliminated leaving the stronger ones (Ronquillo & Hernandez, 2017). Further, some of those stronger bacteria that survive begin developing defence mechanism against antibiotics due to continuous exposure. This takes place through the aforesaid process of gene mutation. Gradually, the weaker bacteria die out leaving the stronger mutated bacteria that is now resistant to ordinary antibiotics (Ronquillo & Hernandez, 2017).
Conclusion
Antibiotics were some of the greatest discoveries made in the 20th century and perhaps one of the best pharmacological inventions of all time. When used properly in combination with vaccination, antibiotics can eliminate many of the deadly infectious diseases that have plagued the earth. Unfortunately, through the development of resistance to antibiotics, this pharmacological advantage might be lost. This would revert the world to times when an epidemic would wipe out a substantial percentage of all population. This unfortunate outcome must be avoided at all costs hence the importance of this research. Research such as this should be done on a grand scale globally with every possible step taken to stop the further development of antibiotic resistance.
References
Jamhour, A., El-Kheir, A., Salameh, P., Hanna, P. A., & Mansour, H. (2017). Antibiotic knowledge and self-medication practices in a developing country: A cross-sectional study. American Journal of Infection Control , (16), 31089-31086. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2016.11.026
Ronquillo, M. G., & Hernandez, J. C. A. (2017). Antibiotic and synthetic growth promoters in animal diets: Review of impact and analytical methods. Food Control , 72 , 255-267.
Spellberg, B., Bartlett, J. G., & Gilbert, D. N. (2013). The future of antibiotics and resistance. New England Journal of Medicine , 368 (4), 299-302.
