How does antibiotic resistance typically develop?

Antibiotic resistance typically develops when drug-resistant bacteria survive the effects of antibiotics and subsequently multiply. This process begins when bacteria are exposed to antibiotics; while some may be killed off, those that have developed mutations or acquired resistance genes can survive. These remaining bacteria can then reproduce, passing their resistant traits to their offspring. Over time, this leads to a population of bacteria that are no longer susceptible to the antibiotics that were previously effective against them.

This phenomenon is further exacerbated by factors such as inappropriate prescribing practices, incomplete courses of antibiotics, and antibiotic use in agriculture, allowing these resistant strains to become more prevalent in the community. Understanding this mechanism is crucial in combating antibiotic resistance, which poses a significant threat to public health by making infections harder to treat.