For this discussion, you engage in a role-playing exercise. From the learning re

Question

For this discussion, you engage in a role-playing exercise. From the learning resources provided in this module, you should have substantial exposure to the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in bacteria as well as how human activities contribute to selection of the genes responsible for resistance. Please utilize this knowledge in your responses to the scenario below.

After reading the assigned chapters, article and watching the video for this module please respond to the following:

You have recently been awarded a well-earned Ph.D. in Microbiology and are an esteemed expert in antibiotic resistance. You have been asked to focus your energy and discourse and explain antibiotic resistance to ONE of the following:

i.            The executives of National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

ii.            Parents of a 6-year old boy with Community Acquired-MRSA

iii.            An immigrant from India with XDR-TB

iv.            Nursing home facility sanitation staff

In your initial post, briefly explain what antibiotic resistance is, where it comes from, and why it is an issue. Then propose potential solutions and/or precautions. Be persuasive.

Explanation / Answer

I would explain antibiotic resistance to ii) Parents of a 6-year old boy with Community Acquired-MRSA

Antibiotic resistance is a phenomena where microbes develop a resistance towards the medications used to treat them effectively earlier. This poses a serious threat to the health and well being of us humans as the main line of medication used against that pathogen/microbe has become ineffective. In this particular case community acquired MRSA stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. This case of resistance refers to a positive specimen of MRSA which has been acquired from the community outside of hospital settings. This infection can manifest itself as pimples and boils and infect otherwise healthy people.

There are several important reasons which give rise to antibiotic resistance. A few important ones being:

1. Antibiotics have become widely available since the last four decades or so.

2. Too much abuse of antibiotics in low and middle income countries which leads to evolutionary pressures on the bacteria which are exposed much more to the antibiotics now as compared to earlier times.

3. Too much use of broad spectrum antibiotics which are more potent in inducing antibiotic resistance than narrow spectrum antibiotics.

This whole problem of antibiotic resistance is a big issue because of the serious threat it poses to human health. Too much antibiotics and antibiotic resistant bateria are contaminating the environment and spreading resistance.

There could be a number of approaches which aould be tried to solve this menacing problem of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics should be used only when prescribed by a registered physician. Health workers and hospital staff should use proper sanitation techniques including disinfecting each patient. The prescribed dosage of antibiotics should not be skipped. Narrow spectrum of antibiotics should be used with the shortest possible duration of treatment. Other thn these few solutions, constant research and development is required to research on the molecular mechanims of drug resistance which might help us to identify new drug targets helpful for eliminating that pathogen.

"A malaria biologist"

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