Abstract

Antibiotic resistance refers to the ability of microbes to grow in the presence of an antibiotic that would have killed initially or inhibited the growth of these microorganisms. The emergence and spread of drugresistant pathogens are recognised to be one of the most significant global concerns in the 21st century. Treatment of drugresistant infections takes longer time, costs more, and can sometimes be impossible. The main mechanisms of antibiotic resistance include drug inactivation, modification of drug targets, limiting drug uptake, and drug efflux. Some of the main reasons for the development and spread of AMR are the use of antibiotics as feed additives for farm animals, as well as their excessive and inappropriate use in medicine. Other causes include mishandling unused antibiotics, travelling, use of biocides and poor hygiene. Horizontal gene transfer enhances the spread of resistance by allowing resistance genes to be passed on to other bacteria. The ‘One Health’ initiative, which covers human and veterinary medicine, livestock, agriculture, trade and the environment, is crucial in combating the increasing risk of antibiotic resistance.