science

Student 1 Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a severe problem for global public health. According to Amann et al. (2019), AMR happens when microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites resist the medications that were once helpful in treating them. AMR is a serious hazard to public health and is becoming more prevalent. The prevalence of antibiotic resistance and its causes will be covered in this essay with examples cited to help illustrate the ideas.

Both high-income and low-income nations are affected by the prevalent problem of antimicrobial resistance. Henrici De Angelis et al. (2022) estimate that if nothing is done to address the problem, AMR will cause 10 million additional deaths annually by the year 2050, up from the current 700,000 deaths yearly. The overuse and abuse of antibiotics are among the main factors contributing to AMR. Both humans and animals can misuse antibiotics. For instance, the availability of antibiotics without a prescription for over-the-counter purchase in some nations encourages overuse. Antibiotics are administered to animals to aid in growth and disease prevention, which results in the emergence of resistance.

The poor development of new antibiotics is another factor contributing to AMR. Despite AMR's mounting danger, few new antibiotics are being developed (Costanzo & Roviello, 2023). Due to the significant expenses associated with the research and development process and the poor financial returns, pharmaceutical companies are less likely to invest in developing new antibiotics. Since no new antibiotics are being developed, existing medications are losing their potency as bacteria develop resistance to them.

There are several examples of AMR. The rise of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is one illustration. Isoniazid and rifampicin, two of the most potent TB medications, are ineffective against MDR-TB. This raises the difficulty of treating it and the possibility of spreading it to others. The rise of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) is another illustration. The antibiotics carbapenem, frequently used as a last option to treat infections, are ineffective against these bacteria. The appearance of CRE increases the risk of mortality and makes it more challenging to cure infections.

Student 2 What is antimicrobials are antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics are medicines used to prevent and heal infections in humans, animals, and plants. Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria viruses’ fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread severe illness and death. The emergence and spread of drug-resistant pathogens that have acquired new resistance mechanisms, leading to antimicrobial resistance, continues to threaten out the ability to treat common infections. Antibiotics are becoming increasingly ineffective as drug resistance spreads globally leading to more difficult-to-treat infections and death. New antibacterial is urgently needed for example to treat carbapenem-resistance gram-negative bacterial infections as identified in the priority pathogen list. However, if people do not change the way antibiotics are used now, these new antibiotics will suffer the same fate as the current ones and become ineffective. AMR occurs naturally over time, usually through genetic changes. Antimicrobial-resistant organisms are found in people, animals, food, plants, and the environment (in water, soil, and air). They can spread from person to person or between people and animals, including from food of animal origin.  

 

Some examples of antimicrobial resistance are 1. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a cause of staph infections that is difficult to treat because of the resistance to some antibiotics. Staph MRSA can spread in hospitals other healthcare facilities, and in the community where you live, work, and go to school. 2 Vancomycin-resistance Enterococci (VRE) are bacteria (germs) that are normally present in the human intestine and the female genital tract and are often found in the environment like in soil and water. These bacteria can cause infections. Enterococci bacteria are constantly finding new ways to avoid the effects of the antibiotics used to treat the infections they cause. Antibiotic resistance occurs when the germ no longer responds to the antibiotics designed to kill them. 

Student 3 Antimicrobial resistance is when microorganisms like bacterium, viruses, fungus, protozoans, and helminths develop the capacity to defeat the drugs created to inhibit or eliminated them as consequence microorganisms are not killed and keep growing. Every year, antimicrobial resistance increases by 1.2%, making it more challenging to treat mild conditions. Antimicrobial resistance has the potential to affect people at any stage of life, as well as the healthcare, veterinary, and agriculture industries. This makes it one of the world’s most urgent public health problems.

Resistance can be caused by two variables: 

1. Natural inborn resistance or intrinsic is when the bacteria can protect themselves against any antibiotic. For example, Clostridium difficile produce endospores that naturally resist most antibiotics due to their nature and also has a tough spore coat that acts as a shield that blocks drug entry. 

2. Acquired resistance is when occurring a genetic mutation or horizontal gene transfer from one bacteria to another bacteria. For example, when we are taking a drug under a prescription, but we did not complete the treatment, some bacteria will survive and learn about it; to transfer genetic information to another bacteria. The new bacteria will develop a defense mechanism against the previous drug. Acquired resistance is commonly seen in countries like Colombia where is easy to get an antibiotic without a prescription and people take it just because a partner suggests that it worked for them when they had the same symptoms. So, when the patient had severe symptoms and visits the doctor the antibiotic will not have the same effect and no longer respond to medicines making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death. The rate of resistance to ciprofloxacin is used to treat a wide variety of infections like Hemophilus influenza has shown less effectiveness during the last decade against these bacteria and required the use of more potent antibiotics. we must have to be more responsible with the use of antibiotics and just use them when recommended by a professional.