MIT scientists discovered that resistant bacteria can protect non-resistant bacteria. By breaking down the antibiotic, resistant bacteria enable non-resistant bacteria to survive. According to the scientists, this is a form of mutualism, which is where different species cooperate and both benefit from their interaction. The researchers state that this is the first example of mutualism in this area.
Most strains of E. coli are not pathogens. However, if they are resistant to antibiotics, they can still cause problems.
united we stand
The researchers demonstrated this using two different strains of resistant Escherichia coli. One strain was resistant to the antibiotic ampicillin and the other to chloramphenicol. Together, these two strains were able to survive in an environment that contained both antibiotics. On their own, neither of these two E. coli strains survived.
survival
According to the American scientists, the effects of this form of mutualism are not restricted to these bacteria, they can also have an impact on our healthcare system. By helping non-resistant pathogens to survive antibiotic treatment, such mutualism can make it more difficult to treat infections. All it takes is the presence of another bacterium in the vicinity, one that is resistant to that particular antibiotic. Bacteria also have other capabilities that enable them to simultaneously develop resistance to several different antibiotics. They can do so by transferring resistance to one another.
the importance of a course of treatment
Thus, to prevent resistance developing, it is important to complete a course of antibiotics. At some point during that course of treatment you might no longer feel ill, as the antibiotic will have killed most of the bacteria. But they won’t all be dead. Some will just have been considerably weakened. If you terminate the course of treatment too soon, very small numbers of pathogens will survive in your body. At that point they will not give rise to disease symptoms, but they have been in contact with the antibiotic and may become resistant. This can lead to much greater problems.