This document discusses antibiotic resistance and the rise of superbugs. It defines antibiotics and antibiotic resistance, and describes the mechanisms by which bacteria become resistant. The causes of increasing antibiotic resistance are overuse and misuse of antibiotics in both medicine and agriculture. Future consequences may include increased mortality from untreatable infections and rising economic costs. Solutions proposed include developing alternative treatments to antibiotics and improving antibiotic stewardship.

2. ANTIBIOTIC
RESISTANCE-
The Rise of the
SUPERBUGS
Presented By: Mohammad Junaid Shakir
BSc(Hons.) Biotechnology- 3rd Professional
Akhuwat- Faisalabad Institute of Research, Science and
Technology , Faisalabad.
ELEMENTS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

3. OUTLINE
 What are ANTIBIOTICS?
 How do they work?
 What is Antibiotic Resistance?
 Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance.
 Causes of Antibiotic Resistance.
 Future Consequences.
 Preventions & Solutions.
 References.

4. ANTIBIOTICS
 Substances capable of killing & inhibiting the growth of
other microorganisms are called Antibiotics.
 The ‘Antibiotic’ literally means ‘against life’ but here;
‘against pathogens’.
 Antibiotics are widely employed to cure bacterial
diseases.

5. ANTIBIOTICS MECHANISM

6. ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE
 Definition (WHO): “Resistance of a microorganism to
an antimicrobial medicine to which it was originally
sensitive.”
 Antibiotic resistance is a biological process accelerated
by human practices and a major factor limiting long-
term use of an antimicrobial agent.
 Resistant organism: One that will not be inhibited or
killed by an antibacterial agent at concentrations of the
drug achievable in the body after normal dosage.
 Superbug: Multidrug resistant bacteria are called
Superbug or super bacteria.

7. MECHANISM
 Denied access: Membrane becomes impermeable for
antibiotic e.g. Imipenem.
 Antibiotic modification: Some bacteria have enzymes
that cleave or modify antibiotics e.g. beta lactamase
inactivates penicillin.
 Altered target site: Antibiotic cannot bind to its
intended target because the target itself has been
modified.
 Pumping out: The antibiotic faster than it gets in e.g.
Tetracyclines.
 Alternative Target (typically enzyme): e.g. Alternative
penicillin binding protein (PBP2a) in MRSA.

9. CAUSES OF ANTIBIOTIC
RESISTANCE
 Over-prescribing of antibiotics.
 Patients not taking antibiotics as prescribed.
 Unnecessary antibiotics used in agriculture.
 Poor infection control in hospitals and clinics.
 Poor hygiene and sanitation practices.
 Lack of rapid laboratory tests.

10. FUTURE CONSEQUENCES
 Increased mortality rates that previously treatable
infections may become uncurable and deadly.
 It would also lead to an increase in economic burden of
countries due to expensive and prolonged treatments.
 It is estimated that failure to address the antibiotic
resistance problem may lead 10 million deaths, costing
66 trillion euros by 2050.

11. PREVENTIONS
 Only use antibiotic when prescribed by a certified
health professional.
 Do not take an antibiotic for a viral infection like a
cold, most sore throats or flu.
 Never share antibiotics with others.
 Always take the full prescription even if you feel
better.
 Prevent infections by regularly washing hands, avoiding
contact with sick people and keeping your vaccinations
up to date.

12. SOLUTIONS
 Due to increasing resistance in microorganism against
the available antibiotics and discouraging pace of new
discoveries, world is now aiming for Alternative non-
antibiotic treatments to infections.
 Phage therapy is one of these alternatives, long being
used in Eastern European States as Georgia, in which
bacteriophages are used to kill microbes causing various
infections.
 Recently an ancient Silver-based organic antimicrobial
agent has successfully being used to treat urinary tract
infection and is also found to cure many other ailments
like sore throat, cold sores and even food poisoning.

13. REFERENCE
 Antibiotic Resistance: Understanding and Responding
to an Emerging Crisis by Karl Drlica, David S. Perlin,
October 21, 2010.
 Handbook of Antimicrobial Resistance by Donald
Shepherd, Greg Matiashewski, and Mathias Gottle,
February 12, 2018.
 Antibiotic Resistance Protocols: Second Edition by
Timothy D. McHugh, 2010.
 www.honeycolony.com/simply-transformative/3rd-rock-
rashblock.