Communicable Diseases in New Zealand > Antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic resistance

What is antibiotic resistance?

Antibiotic resistance is a global threat to the treatment of bacterial infectious diseases. The discovery of antibiotic drugs to treat infections caused by bacteria has been an important development of modern medicine.

When exposed to antibiotic drugs, bacteria can develop resistance requiring the use of a different and sometimes more toxic and expensive treatments of infections. (Antibiotics are "antimicrobial" drugs.

Other antimicrobials include anti-virals that kill viruses, anti-fungals that kill fungi, as well as other antimicrobials that kill worms or any other intracellular or extracellular parasite.)

Some strains of antibiotic resistant bacteria are well-established in New Zealand, occurring not only in infections treated in hospitals and medical facilities but also in the community.

Some examples of antibiotic resistant bacteria

Examples of antibiotic resistant bacteria, which although comparatively rare are of concern, include:

• MRSA - methicillin/oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
  
• EMRSA - a strain of MRSA
  
• VRE - vancomycin-resistant enterococci
  
• ESBLs - extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (which are resistant to cephalosporins and monobactams)
  
• PRSP - penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae

Factors contributing to the prevention of development and spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria include prudent use of antibiotics and effective infection control practices.

Go to:

Prescribing of antibiotics

How can we monitor and control it?

What can the public do?

Am I at risk?

The Antibiotic Resistance Advisory Group

What are other agencies doing?

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