Antibiotic Resistance

For many years, antibiotics have been effectively used to treat bacterial disease.

A growing concern for treating bacterial diseases is the evolution of antibiotic resistance by bacterial populations. Resistance means that a particular antibiotic is no longer effective in treating a disease. This resistance can be viewed as evolution of a new trait at the population level, which is resistance to an antibiotic.

Recommended: Click on the following links to review materials to increase your understanding of natural selection and antibiotic resistance.

Understanding Evolution

Antibiotic Resistance 

Focus your discussion on 1 of the following topics:

• The use, overuse, and abuse of antibiotics are accredited with creating antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Explain how this relates to natural selection.
• Using a credible source, describe at least 2 of the things that people do (you can include individuals, doctors, health care professionals, hospitals, farmers, and so on) that contribute to this problem. Explain.
• Are there things that you can personally do to reduce your risk or even to reduce the spread of these dangerous microbes?

Utilize at least 1 credible source to support the arguments presented in your post.

In your own words, post a response to the Discussion Board, and comment on at least 2 other postings. You will be graded on both level of engagement and the quality of the contribution to the discussion.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). About antibiotic use and resistance. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/community/about/index.html

University of California Museum of Paleontology. (n.d.). Understanding evolution. Retrieved from https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/home.php