What it means
Bacteria change (mutate) or pick up genes that protect them from a drug. Each time antibiotics are used, the sensitive bacteria die and the resistant ones survive and multiply. Overuse, using antibiotics for viral infections and not finishing a prescribed course all speed this up. MRSA and VRE are examples of resistant bacteria.
For the nurse
Collect cultures before the first dose, give antibiotics on time, and teach clients to take the full course as prescribed, never share or save antibiotics, and not to ask for them for colds. Use contact precautions for resistant organisms as policy requires.
At a glance
| Spanish | resistencia a los antibióticos |
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Related terms
MRSA
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a staph bacterium that many common antibiotics cannot kill.
antibiotic
A drug that kills bacteria or stops them from growing.
contact precautions
Infection control steps, used on top of standard precautions, for germs that spread by touching the client or things around them.
culture and sensitivity
A lab test that grows the germs from a sample to identify them and see which antibiotics work against them.
mutation
A change in the genetic code (DNA) of a cell.