Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health threat that the world should take seriously. In fact, according to SciTechDaily, AMR is foreseen to take the lives of 10 million people by 2050. Because of this serious issue, researchers are exerting blazing efforts to dig deeper and overtake the pace of these diminished effects.
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New Antimicrobial Resistance Mechanism Discovered
Thanks to continuous efforts, researchers have discovered a vital clue that can explain how certain bacteria are capable of dodging the effects of antibiotics.
In a study published in Nature Communications, researchers unearthed a particular mechanism that empowered bacteria to leech nutrients on the human hose and evade antibiotic effects. They were able to note this as they were studying the susceptibility of antibiotics in the Group A Streptococcus, which is a likely deadly type of bacteria that are usually spotted in the throat and atop the skin. This bacteria leads to various infections.
Dr. Timothy Barnett, the leader of the team, notes that in order to grow and bring illness, bacteria have to create folates of their own. He also mentions that there are certain antibiotics that can work by stopping the production of folate. This, in turn, prohibits the growth of bacteria and allows treatment of the infection.
Dr. Barrnet notes that as they were looking at commonly prescribed antibiotics for Group A strep infections on the skin, the team found the mechanism of resistance. The bacteria showed the capacity to get folates from their human host when it was inhibited to create its own. Because of this, the antibiotic treatment was ineffective and the infection may become even worse even if the patient should have been recovering.
He further notes that this mechanism cannot be traced through routine conditions that are used in laboratories. This makes it hard for physicians to offer antibiotic treatments that will effectively combat the infection. This may result in poor recovery or even death.
How Does Antimicrobial Resistance Happen?
Antimicrobial or antibiotic resistance takes place when fungi or bacteria gain the capacity to overpower the drugs that were meant to destroy them. This implies that instead of being finished off by the medicine, these germs still continue to grow and even thrive. Infections that are antibiotic-resistant may be hard or even entirely impossible to manage.
According to the World Health Organization, AMR poses a global and growing threat. In fact, WHO included AMR in the top 10 worldwide public health risks and threats that humanity faces.
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