What resistance failure mode involves the treatment failing because bacteria develop defenses against antibiotics?
Answer
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) describes a specific scenario where the failure lies not with the host's natural immune system, but with the efficacy of external chemical interventions used for treatment. This occurs when bacteria evolve genetic traits that allow them to withstand the effects of antibiotics; the presence of the drug selects for these resistant strains, enabling them to proliferate successfully against drugs that were previously effective. Although AMR focuses on the failure of chemical treatment, it mirrors the broader evolutionary arms race where pathogens evolve mechanisms to bypass or neutralize host defenses.
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