A new study led by the University of Oxford has found that natural evolution of antibiotic resistance genes has maintained resistance in bacteria despite a reduction in the use of antibiotics. The findings demonstrate the importance of understanding the regulatory evolution of resistance genes to strategically combat AMR.
Antibiotics are used to treat serious illnesses caused by pathogenic bacteria as a "last option," but developing resistance by "superbugs" to most clinically authorized medications puts patients at risk of death.