The Problem of Antibiotic Resistance Explained

Format: Fact Sheet
Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Antibiotics are frequently relied upon to fight infections caused by disease-causing bacteria. Yet some bacteria are no longer vulnerable to the killing action of most antibiotics. This updated fact sheet presents an overview of antibiotic resistance, factors that contribute to the problem, and current NIAID-supported research in this area.

Next Steps
The fact sheet is available online at www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/antimicro.htm.