An overview of the antimicrobial resistance mechanisms of bacteria

Wanda C Reygaert; Wanda C Reygaert

doi:10.3934/microbiol.2018.3.482

AIMS Microbiology

2018, Volume 4, Issue 3: 482-501. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2018.3.482

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Review

An overview of the antimicrobial resistance mechanisms of bacteria

Wanda C Reygaert ^,

Department of Biomedical Sciences, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, MI, USA

Received: 18 April 2018 Accepted: 13 June 2018 Published: 26 June 2018

Resistance to antimicrobial agents has become a major source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. When antibiotics were first introduced in the 1900’s, it was thought that we had won the war against microorganisms. It was soon discovered however, that the microorganisms were capable of developing resistance to any of the drugs that were used. Apparently most pathogenic microorganisms have the capability of developing resistance to at least some antimicrobial agents. The main mechanisms of resistance are: limiting uptake of a drug, modification of a drug target, inactivation of a drug, and active efflux of a drug. These mechanisms may be native to the microorganisms, or acquired from other microorganisms. Understanding more about these mechanisms should hopefully lead to better treatment options for infective diseases, and development of antimicrobial drugs that can withstand the microorganisms attempts to become resistant.
- antimicrobial resistance,
- β-lactamase,
- MRSA,
- ESBL,
- CRE
Citation: Wanda C Reygaert. An overview of the antimicrobial resistance mechanisms of bacteria[J]. AIMS Microbiology, 2018, 4(3): 482-501. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2018.3.482

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Abstract

Resistance to antimicrobial agents has become a major source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. When antibiotics were first introduced in the 1900’s, it was thought that we had won the war against microorganisms. It was soon discovered however, that the microorganisms were capable of developing resistance to any of the drugs that were used. Apparently most pathogenic microorganisms have the capability of developing resistance to at least some antimicrobial agents. The main mechanisms of resistance are: limiting uptake of a drug, modification of a drug target, inactivation of a drug, and active efflux of a drug. These mechanisms may be native to the microorganisms, or acquired from other microorganisms. Understanding more about these mechanisms should hopefully lead to better treatment options for infective diseases, and development of antimicrobial drugs that can withstand the microorganisms attempts to become resistant.

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