title: [Antibiotic resistance: A global crisis].
abstract: The introduction of antibiotics into clinical practice represented one of the most important interventions for the control of infectious diseases. Antibiotics have saved millions of lives and have also brought a revolution in medicine. However, an increasing threat has deteriorated the effectiveness of these drugs, that of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, which is defined here as the ability of bacteria to survive in antibiotic concentrations that inhibit/kill others of the same species. In this review some recent and important examples of resistance in pathogens of concern for mankind are mentioned. It is explained, according to present knowledge, the process that led to the current situation in a short time, evolutionarily speaking. It begins with the resistance genes, continues with clones and genetic elements involved in the maintenance and dissemination, and ends with other factors that contribute to its spread. Possible responses to the problem are also reviewed, with special reference to the development of new antibiotics.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Getafe, Madrid, España; Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, España. Electronic address: nachoalos@telefonica.net.
authors.forename: Juan-Ignacio
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Alós
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial / Q000235:genetics; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D014943:Global Health; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D000067490:Prescription Drug Overuse; D011815:R Factors; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015507:Drugs, Investigational
keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Antibiotic resistance genes; Antimicrobial stewardship; Extensión de la resistencia; Genes de resistencia a antibióticos; New antibiotics; Nuevos antibióticos; Resistencia a antibióticos; Spread of antibiotic resistance; Uso racional de antimicrobianos