Common Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria

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Antibiotic resistance can present throughout most bacteria; however, some bacteria are already recognized to be notably resistant to certain antibiotics that we commonly use today. Below is a list of bacteria that have been already been identified as a strain that is commonly resistant to antibiotics:

Staphylococcus aureus

S. aureus is a considered to be a major antibiotic resistant bacteria that has overcome many different antibiotics; the most notable being penicillin and methicillin. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus is a common “super bug” in the hospital in modern time and requires much stronger antibiotics to eradicate it. There have also been reports of vancomycin-resistant S. aureus.1 

Streptococcus

Streptococcus is a common bacterium that is relatively susceptible to many antibiotics. However, there have been resistant cases to macrolides and penicillins worldwide. The bacterium is mainly responsible for pneumonia, middle ear infections, arthritis, meningitis, etc.2 

Enterococcus

Antibiotic resistant Enterococcus are generally found or acquired through hospitalizations or hospital visits.3 Common resistant strains resist antibiotics such as penicillin, vancomycin, and linezolid.4

 Pseudomonas aeruginosa

P. aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacteria that has high resistance against most antibiotics. The reason for this is due to it’s low permeability of the bacteria envelope, as well as its possession of multidrug efflux pumps that actively pump out antibiotics.5 

Clostridium difficile

C. difficile is a hospital-acquired bacteria that mainly causes it’s host to have diarrheal disease.6 According to various reports, there were strains of C. difficile that is resistant to clindamycin.7

 Mycobacterium tuberculosis

M. tuberculosis is the bacteria responsible for the infamous tuberculosis infection. They are considered to be MDR (Multidrug Resistant), as they have mutated to be resistant against streptomycin and other drugs such as isoniazid and rifampin.8 

Neisseria gonorrhoeae

N. gonorrhoeae is the bacteria that generally causes gonorrhea, which is sexually transmitted. Over the decades, N. gonnorrhoeae has mutated to become resistant to penicillin, fluoroquinolones, and specific cephalosporins.9

 Although some strains of these bacteria can be resistant to antibiotics, always remember to consult with your family physician. Never self-diagnose and suspected infections, as it can lead to dangerous outcomes.

References:

  1. Bozdogan B. Antibacterial susceptibility of a vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain isolated at the Hershey Medical Center. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2003;52(5):864-868.
  2. Albrich W, Monnet D, Harbarth S. Antibiotic Selection Pressure and Resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2004;10(3):514-517.
  3. Hidron A, Edwards J, Patel J, Horan T, Sievert D, Pollock D et al. NHSN Annual Update: Antimicrobial‐Resistant Pathogens Associated With Healthcare‐Associated Infections: Annual Summary of Data Reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006–2007 •. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. 2008;29(11):996-1011.
  4. Kristich C, Rice L, Arias C. Enterococcal Infection—Treatment and Antibiotic Resistance [Internet]. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2016 [cited 15 November 2016]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK190420/
  5. Poole K. Efflux-mediated multiresistance in Gram-negative bacteria. Clinical Microbiology and Infection. 2004;10(1):12-26.
  6. Gerding D, Johnson S, Peterson L, Mulligan M, Silva J. Clostridium difficile-Associated Diarrhea and Colitis. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. 1995;16(8):459-477.
  7. Johnson S, Samore M, Farrow K, Killgore G, Tenover F, Lyras D et al. Epidemics of Diarrhea Caused by a Clindamycin-Resistant Strain ofClostridium difficilein Four Hospitals. New England Journal of Medicine. 1999;341(22):1645-1651.
  8. Herzog, Basel H. History of Tuberculosis. Respiration. 1998;65(1):5-15.
  9. Tapsall J. Antibiotic Resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2005;41(s4):S263-S268.
Picture: Masterson S. Bacteria [Internet]. 2016 [cited 15 November 2016]. Available from: https://20masterlab.com/category/bacteria/