Vol. 1, Issue 5, Part A (2016)

Author(s): Dessie Abera, Fanta Desissa and Jemal Endris

Abstract: Treatment of infections with antimicrobial agents in clinical practice has been the most successful advances in the health care system. But now a day’s treating bacterial infections become difficult due to their ability to develop resistance. The objective of this paper is to review the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance development in bacteria. Bacteria may be intrinsically resistant to antimicrobial agents or may acquire resistance genes by de novo mutation or via a process of transduction, conjugation, and transformation. Mechanism of resistance may be through drug target alteration, drug modification, and reduced drug accumulation as a result of decreased permeability or active drug efflux. Resistant bacterial infections lead to increased morbidity, mortality, healthcare costs, and negative consequences for livelihood and food security. It is aggravated in developing than developed countries. Therefore, further study on mechanisms of resistant development to generate new insights of counteracting mechanisms is essential. In addition, awareness creation is important to prevent antimicrobial resistance development. More importantly, prudent use of available antimicrobial agents and the development of alternative new drugs are recommended.