
Which of the following are the reasons for the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens in India?
- Genetic predisposition of some people
- Taking incorrect doses of antibiotics to cure diseases
- Using antibiotics in livestock farming
- Multiple chronic diseases in some people
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- 1 and 2
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 3 and 4
- 2, 3 and 4
Explanation
Reasons 2 and 3 are correct
- Antimicrobials include antibiotics, antiviral, antifungal & anti-parasitic medication. Antimicrobial resistance is defined as a microorganism’s resistance to an antimicrobial drug that was once able to treat an infection by that microorganism. For example, in Multi-Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB), the TB bacteria are resistant to two of the essential TB drugs, isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RMP).
- Causative Factors behind AMR: Microorganisms can develop resistance and become Superbugs mainly in two ways:
- Intrinsic resistance: It refers to the inherent resistance of certain bacteria to specific antibiotics.
- Acquired resistance: It refers to the resistance developed in bacteria due to genetic mutation.
- Causes behind Acquired Antimicrobial Resistance: Overuse and improper use of antimicrobials (Taking incorrect doses of antibiotics to cure diseases)
- Greater access to over-the-counter antibiotic drugs in developing countries.
- Using broad-spectrum antibiotics over narrow-spectrum antibiotics.
- Inadequate dumping of pharmaceutical industry effluents.
- Antibiotic use in livestock feed.
Reasons 1 and 4 are incorrect
- Genetic factors and chronic diseases may increase susceptibility to infections, but they are not directly responsible for the development of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens.


