Upsurge in Antibiotic-Resistant Infections

Penicillin was the first antibiotic to be discovered in 1929. Over time, various antibiotics have been discovered to combat the threat of diseases caused by different microorganisms. The extensive use of the newly discovered antibiotics triggered biological resistance mechanisms that eventually led to the development of new strains of microbes. Hospital-acquired infections are the most common cases of antibiotic-resistant infections and pose a major challenge in their treatment. Therefore, there is a constant need to find new defense mechanisms against the constantly evolving microorganisms. The aim of this chapter is to compile all known molecular mechanisms that make microbes resistant to antibiotics. It focuses on the mechanisms of drug resistance such as changes in target sites, modifications of the antibiotic molecule, reduced antibiotic penetration and efflux resistance due to global cell adaptations, and how genetic mutations and mobile genetic parts contribute to the spread of resistance genes in microbial populations. Biological processes of antibiotic resistance, such as horizontal gene transfer, efflux pumping, and biofilm formation, are becoming increasingly common. This means that conventional antibiotic treatments are losing their effectiveness against more and more bacterial infections. Bringing together all known mechanisms of drug resistance under one umbrella will help the research community develop new ideas to overcome the challenges that arise in the fight for survival against the never-ending phenomenon of evolution. The focus of this chapter is therefore on the impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on healthcare, patient outcomes, and economic burdens. This underscores the importance of collaboration between policymakers, healthcare providers, researchers, and the community to mitigate the impact of this burgeoning crisis.