ANTIBIOTICS AND ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE

Abstract

Antibiotics are among the most important therapeutic tools of modern medicine, responsible for a dramatic reduction in mortality from bacterial infections since the mid-twentieth century. However, the widespread and sometimes irrational use of these drugs in clinical practice, veterinary medicine, and agriculture has driven the emergence and rapid spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This article reviews the classification and mechanisms of action of antibiotics, the biological mechanisms by which bacteria acquire resistance, the main factors contributing to the global spread of resistant strains, and the strategies currently being pursued to slow this process. Particular attention is given to the concept of antimicrobial stewardship and to the role of international cooperation in addressing what the World Health Organization has described as one of the greatest threats to global health.