Antibiotic resistance

Antibiotics are used to treat people when they have a bacterial infection. The antibiotic kills most of the disease-causing bacteria, however, a few will naturally have some resistance and survive. If not enough of the drug is given to overwhelm the bacteria, or if it is not taken for long enough, then the resistant bacteria survive and outgrow the majority of bacteria who are susceptible. Over time, this leads to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

For example, an antibiotic-resistant bacterium causing concern in hospitals is Staphylococcus aureus, also known as Golden Staph. Although a common bacterium found on the skin, it can cause infection after surgery. S. aureus has built up resistance to common antibiotics such as penicillin, methicillin and gentamycin.

There are also bacteria that live in your gut called Enterococci. They live in most people’s lower gastrointestinal tract, and are normally harmless – but they can sometimes cause wound infections, septicaemia (blood poisoning) and urinary tract infections.

The antibiotic vancomycin is often used for the treatment of serious, life-threatening infections by gram-positive bacteria which are unresponsive to other less toxic antibiotics. Some strains of Enterococci have become resistant, meaning the patient can no longer be treated with vancomycin and different antibiotics are needed.

In order to control the spread of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), hospitals have stringent infection control procedures and the careful use of antibiotics.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is the government body responsible for providing advice to government on all health issues. They provide guidelines for hospitals on infection control.

A group of experts has been set up to advise the government on how to reduce the risks of antibiotic resistance in agriculture and human health. The group is called the Expert Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (EAGAR).

For more information on antibiotic resistance, go to The Why Files: http://whyfiles.org/038badbugs/ and

National Health and Medical Research Council: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about/committees/expert/eagar/aar.htm

To read more on the EAGAR’s role and their findings, go to: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about/committees/expert/eagar/index.htm

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What is biotechnology? Human uses Fighting infectious diseases Antibiotics Antibiotic resistance Producing human products Reproductive technologies The human genome project Genetic disorders Gene therapy Cloning Stem cells Transplantation DNA profiling Regulation of research in Australia Ethics of research involving humans Environment Food and agriculture Careers	Antibiotic resistance Antibiotics are used to treat people when they have a bacterial infection. The antibiotic kills most of the disease-causing bacteria, however, a few will naturally have some resistance and survive. If not enough of the drug is given to overwhelm the bacteria, or if it is not taken for long enough, then the resistant bacteria survive and outgrow the majority of bacteria who are susceptible. Over time, this leads to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. For example, an antibiotic-resistant bacterium causing concern in hospitals is Staphylococcus aureus, also known as Golden Staph. Although a common bacterium found on the skin, it can cause infection after surgery. S. aureus has built up resistance to common antibiotics such as penicillin, methicillin and gentamycin. There are also bacteria that live in your gut called Enterococci. They live in most people’s lower gastrointestinal tract, and are normally harmless – but they can sometimes cause wound infections, septicaemia (blood poisoning) and urinary tract infections. The antibiotic vancomycin is often used for the treatment of serious, life-threatening infections by gram-positive bacteria which are unresponsive to other less toxic antibiotics. Some strains of Enterococci have become resistant, meaning the patient can no longer be treated with vancomycin and different antibiotics are needed. In order to control the spread of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), hospitals have stringent infection control procedures and the careful use of antibiotics. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is the government body responsible for providing advice to government on all health issues. They provide guidelines for hospitals on infection control. A group of experts has been set up to advise the government on how to reduce the risks of antibiotic resistance in agriculture and human health. The group is called the Expert Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (EAGAR). For more information on antibiotic resistance, go to The Why Files: http://whyfiles.org/038badbugs/ and National Health and Medical Research Council: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about/committees/expert/eagar/aar.htm To read more on the EAGAR’s role and their findings, go to: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about/committees/expert/eagar/index.htm
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Antibiotic resistance