Q7TYU In patients with non-resistant s... [FREE SOLUTION]

Chapter 56: Q7TYU (page 1258)

In patients with non-resistant strains of the tuberculosis bacterium, antibiotics can relieve symptoms in a few weeks. However, it takes much longer to halt the infection, and patients may discontinue treatment while bacteria are still present. Explain how this could result in the evolution of drug-resistant pathogens.

Short Answer

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Bacteria are one of the classes of microorganisms that accumulate their colony in the body of organisms and cause infection. They are treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics work by different methods to inhibit the activity of bacteria. The proper course of antibiotics is required to kill bacteria.

If a patient discontinues antibiotic treatment, it can result in the development of mutation in particular bacteria. This mutation can pass to different bacteria by gene transfer (conjugation and transduction) and can lead to the evolution of drug-resistant pathogens.

Step by step solution

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are a special class of drugs that show their action only against bacteria.They show their action by many methods, such as altering the cell membrane component of bacteria and inhibiting their protein synthesis mechanism.

Result of discontinuation of bacteria

If the patient discontinues the use of antibiotics, bacteria in the body develop a mechanism of resisting its effect.It can be done by many methods, such as developing an efflux pump and altering their cell wall composition to restrict the entry of antibiotics inside the cell. This can affect the patient more adversely and can increase the infection.

Evolution of drug-resistance pathogen

When bacteria develop the mechanism to restrict the activity of a particular antibiotic, it is called antibiotic resistance. The term evolution implies a sudden change in the genetic material of an organism. It can be developed by improper use of antibiotics. Improper use of antibiotics can result in the development of change in the genetic material of the bacteria, hence resulting in evolution.