Describe the mechanism by which antibiotic resistance develops in bacteria?
- Within a population of bacteria, one bacterium undergoes a random mutation in it’s DNA resulting it it having antibiotic resistance. The chance of this mutation happening can be increased by the overuse of antibiotics or failure to complete a course of antibiotics.2) When antibiotics are added, the sensitive bacteria are killed. However, the bacterium with it’s new ‘antibiotic resistance’ mutation survives.3) This bacterium can then asexually reproduce to form an entire population of identical antibiotic resistant bacteria.Examples of antibiotic resistant infections include C.Difficile and MRSA
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