1. Antibiotics are drugs that kill or slow the growth of bacteria. They work through various mechanisms like inhibiting cell wall synthesis or interfering with bacterial DNA/RNA.
2. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria no longer respond to antibiotics. Bacteria develop resistance through mechanisms like producing drug-inactivating enzymes or modifying antibiotic target sites.
3. The spread of antibiotic resistance is a major global concern as it could lead us back to a pre-antibiotic era where many infections were untreatable. Factors driving resistance include overuse and misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals.