A bacterium exhibits resistance to both penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics. Which mechanism is most likely responsible for this resistance?
Understand the Problem
The question asks about the most likely mechanism for a bacterium's resistance to both penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics. Both penicillin and cephalosporin are beta-lactam antibiotics, meaning they share a common structure (the beta-lactam ring). The question requires understanding how bacteria develop resistance to these types of antibiotics.
Answer
Efflux pumps actively remove both antibiotics from the bacterial cell.
The most likely mechanism is the presence of efflux pumps. These pumps actively remove antibiotics like penicillin and cephalosporins from the bacterial cell, providing resistance to both.
Answer for screen readers
The most likely mechanism is the presence of efflux pumps. These pumps actively remove antibiotics like penicillin and cephalosporins from the bacterial cell, providing resistance to both.
More Information
Other mechanisms include altered penicillin-binding proteins, reduced antimicrobial entry into cells, the presence of certain genes like blaADC, and the production of enzymes like β-lactamases. However, efflux pumps are frequently implicated in resistance to multiple antibiotics.
Tips
It's important to consider multiple resistance mechanisms, but prioritize those that explain resistance to both types of antibiotics mentioned in the question.
Sources
- Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance - PMC - PubMed Central - pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Evaluation of Antibiotic Resistance Mechanisms in Gram-Negative ... - mdpi.com
- What is Antibiotic Resistance - health.mo.gov
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