When was the first antibiotic-resistant bacterium reported?
Quick Answer
Antibiotic resistance was reported very soon after antibiotics began to be used, and penicillin resistance was recognized in the 1940s. Resistance has been observed repeatedly ever since bacteria began facing antimicrobial drugs.
The Full Story
Bacterial resistance emerged almost as soon as antibiotics were introduced, because bacteria evolve quickly under drug pressure. Penicillin-resistant staphylococci were reported in the 1940s, only a few years after penicillin entered medical use. That early warning showed that bacteria can adapt rapidly through mutation and gene exchange. The history of resistance is one reason scientists now treat antimicrobial stewardship as a major public-health priority.
Key Facts
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"Bacteria fought back almost as soon as antibiotics arrived"
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