Multi-Drug resistance also called as "Multiple drug resistance" or abbreviated as MDR, is a phenomenon where a bacteria or virus (but mostly bacteria) develops a natural resistance towards specific drug medications and chemicals. These types of bacterium that resist more than one antibiotic are also called Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) or commonly called Super Bugs. These types of bacterium often effect the terminally ill or older ages leading to very bad infections. Most of the bacteria are found mainly in hospital environments or facilities.
What causes the MDROs to thrive is when antibiotics are being taken when they are not really needed or when the medication is not being taken as prescribed. Being bacteria they will most likely spread through objects or direct contact.
If people do come in contact with MDROs in most cases they will not cause any problems/illnesses. Though there are risk factors can increase the risk of infections if the host does have:
- An existing illness
- Underlying disease such as diabetes
- Previous uses to antibiotics
- Being admitted as hospitalized
- invasive procedures
This of course can cause infections such as:
- Skin
- Lungs
- Urinary tract
- Bloodstream
- Unprotected cuts or wounds
Once the infections have already started, treatment can be rather difficult. This is due to the fact that the bacterium will not respond to the most common antibiotics. Yet doctors will likely still use the best (situational) antibiotics to control the MDRO once they identify what type of MDRO it is.
References:
Nikaido, H. "Multidrug Reisstance in Bacteria." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2012
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19231985>
"Department of Public Health." Department of Public Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3136>
Photos:
student.biology.arizona.edu
