4 How resistance develops

In the previous section you learned about the global scale and impact of AMR on modern life. In this section you will learn about the causes that contribute to this problem – specifically, the development and drivers of AMR.

After this section you will understand:

• that development of antibiotic resistance is a naturally occurring process that protects bacteria
• that increased use of antibiotics has sped up the natural process of resistance development
• how resistant bacteria spread in the environment
• that use of antimicrobials in different sectors is a driver for AMR.