An overview of emerging community based antimicrobial resistance

Abstract

The development of community antimicrobial resistance should not surprise any budding microbiologist. Bacteria are highly adaptable and mutations are acquired or selected in response to any number of stresses. In the 21st century the major ?stressor? is profligate human and veterinary antibiotic use, and inappropriate antimicrobial use in food and agricultural sectors. Worldwide, resistance in the community has been well described in many bacterial species. In this overview, we focus on community resistance in three bacterial species ? Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. In all three human antibiotic use provides the greatest selection pressure.