Antimicrobial (Drug) Resistance

Mutation

Credit: NIAID

Diagram showing how genetic mutation causes drug resistance. Bacteria multiply by the millions. A few of these bacteria will mutate. Some mutations make the bacterium drug resistant. In the presense of drugs, only drug resistant bacteria survive. Drug resistant bacteria multiply and thrive.

Go to the illustration: What is Drug Resistance?
Go to the illustration: Gene Transfer Facilitates Drug Resistance

Go back to: Causes of Antimicrobial (Drug) Resistance