Normal
0
false
false
false
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
Current antibacterial drugs might become
ineffective in the near future due to a phenomenon called pharmacoresistance.
This refers to the ability of microorganisms to withstand bacteriocidal (cell
killing) or bacteriostatic (inhibition of growth) effects caused by antibiotics1.
Bacteria are known to acquire drug resistance through an evolutionary process,
which is driven by the widespread use and misuse of antibiotics. If this public
health problem is not overcome, a wide range of infectious diseases could become
incurable. The mechanisms of drug effects on microorganisms are poorly
understood to date. Many questions remain to be answered: why do the drugs stop
being efficient? How can we select better ones? Can we slow down the
development of drug resistant bacteria?