What is Drug Resistance?
Antimicrobial resistance is the ability of microbes, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi, to grow in the presence of a chemical (drug) that would normally kill it or limit its growth.
![Diagram showing the difference between non-resistant bacteria and drug resistant bacteria. Non-resistant bacteria multiply, and upon drug treatment, the bacteria die. Drug resistant bacteria multiply as well, but upon drug treatment, the bacteria continue to spread.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090201164847im_/http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/NR/rdonlyres/B825EEBC-8299-4757-8311-721FB19E90DD/0/1whatIsDrugResistance.gif)
Credit: NIAID
Definitions: Antimicrobial, Antibiotic, Antibacterial