What does natural selection have to do with antibiotics? Bacteria are becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics. This is a global problem that is becoming more of a concern. When antibiotics are not taken for their appropriate use, bacteria are much more likely to become resistant because of natural selection. Within a large population of bacteria, there will be a few “stronger” bacteria that have natural mutations that keep them alive against an antibiotic. These become “resistant” to antibiotics. These more resistant bacteria multiply, setting the bar higher.
This natural selection, as stated by the name, is a naturally occurring process. Life is always finding ways to live. Unfortunately, there are things that we have been doing that increase the rate of resistance
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Antibiotics in the medical world. People are not taking antibiotics for their intended use either. In the past, medical professionals have been pretty casual in their prescriptions. Sometimes they gave antibiotics to fix a viral infection like a cold or flu. This has no use and just allows bacteria to learn to fight those drugs. In the recent years, this problem has gotten better; doctors are becoming more careful with prescribing. It is also prudent to take combinations of antibiotics to make sure that all bacteria are killed. On the patient side, we need to take the drugs exactly as prescribed until all the pills are gone. If a patient feels better but are not done with their medication, many stop taking them. This allows the few remaining bacteria (the stronger ones) to live and reproduce forming more bacteria that are resistant to the antibiotic.
So as a general rule of thumb; try to buy products that say they are not treated with antibiotics and be sure to finish all your pills when you do have a bacterial infection
I've heard that doctors are being more careful nowadays with antibiotic prescriptions compared to a few decades ago. They may still be over-prescribed though and there certainly is a problem with antibiotics in our livestock.
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