African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (13), pp. 1606-1611, Special Review 2005          
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2005 Academic Journals

Review

Microbial resistance to antibiotics

IBEZIM EMMANUEL CHINEDUM

Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. E-mail: ecibezim@yahoo.com, Tel: 08043180627.

Accepted 16 September, 2005

Organisms that are normally sensitive to the action of an antibiotic may sometimes develop resistance or insensitivity to it. This, they may do through destroying the antibiotic or by retaining their growth even in the presence of the drug. Microbial resistance to antibiotics is now widespread and poses a serious clinical threat. Microorganisms develop resistance to antibiotics by any of the following mechanisms:  selection, mutation, phage transduction, and transference while microbial resistance can either be inherent in the organism or acquired through the environment. Factors that have led to the continued occurrence of bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents include: over prescription of antibiotics, use of under dose, prescribers’ irrational attitudes, patients’ demands, inappropriate advertisements and use of antibiotics in agriculture. Microbial resistance to antibiotics can thus be minimized through proper enlightenment, more rational antibiotic selection during treatment and proper legislation.

Key words: Microorganisms, resistance, antibiotics, sensitivity.