Antibiotic Resistance: How does it happen?

Bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics in several ways. Some bacteria can “neutralize” an antibiotic by changing it in a way that makes it harmless, and some have learned how to pump an antibiotic back outside of the pathogen before it can do any harm. Others can change their outer structure so the antibiotic has no way to even attach to the bacteria, let alone kill it.
The World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) aims to increase global awareness of antibiotic resistance and to encourage best practices among the general public, health workers and policy makers to avoid the further emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance.

The fight has already begun, its outcome has yet to be determined. To prevent falling back to the medical Middle Ages where every infection would potentially be a death sentence, every one of us needs to be aware of our responsibility - and face up to it.