Antibiotics Resistance | 11 Feb 2025

Source: TH 

Why in News? 

Widespread antibiotic use in healthcare has fueled drug-resistant bacteria, with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) causing about 1.2 million deaths globally in 2021. 

  • Indian hospitals report a 13% mortality rate in infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria. 

What is Antibiotics Resistance? 

  • About Antibiotics: Antibiotics treat bacterial infections in humans and animals by killing bacteria or inhibiting their growth and multiplication. 
    • They target bacterial structures or processes, ensuring minimal impact on human cells. 
  • Working of Antibiotics: Bacterial cells have a protective cell wall made of peptidoglycan. Its two key components are Glycans and Peptides. 
    • Antibiotics like Penicillin weakens bacterial cell walls by disrupting peptide crosslinks, leading to bacterial death.   
  • Development of  Antibiotics Resistance: Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria mutate or gain resistance genes, making infections harder to treat. 
    • Bacteria evolve resistance through various mechanisms like: 
      • Producing enzymes like penicillinase against Penicillin, which break down antibiotic molecules. 
      • Modifying their own structures to evade the antibiotic’s effects.  
  • New Survival Strategy: A new study found that bacteria can compensate for lost functions, enhancing resilience and making antibiotic resistance harder to combat. 

Antibiotics_Resistance 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQ) 

Prelims 

Q.Which of the following are the reasons for the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens in India? (2019) 

  1. Genetic predisposition of some people
  2. Taking incorrect doses of antibiotics to cure diseases
  3. Using antibiotics in livestock farming
  4. Multiple chronic diseases in some people

Select the correct answer using the code given below. 

(a) 1 and 2  

(b) 2 and 3 only 

(c) 1, 3 and 4  

(d) 2, 3 and 4 

Ans: (b) 

 Q.What is the importance of using Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India? (2020) 

  1. These vaccines are effective against pneumonia as well as meningitis and sepsis.
  2. Dependence on antibiotics that are not effective against drug-resistant bacteria can be reduced.
  3. These vaccines have no side effects and cause no allergic reactions.

Select the correct answer using the code given below: 

(a) 1 only  

(b) 1 and 2 only 

(c) 3 only  

(d) 1, 2 and 3 

Ans: (b)