
Bacteria are living organisms. It can sometimes be difficult to think of them this way because they are microscopic, but they are organisms just like birds, fish, and human beings. Bacteria are unicellular, which means that each individual is only made up of one cell, rather than the trillions of cells that comprise a human being.
As living organisms, bacterial populations can grow and evolve according to their environment. One gene that has been found in strains of E.Coli bacteria is mcr-1, which makes them resistant to certain antibiotics. Thus far, four cases of individuals falling ill to this strain of E.Coli have been identified in the United States, including a toddler in Connecticut who became ill in June 2016. E.Coli is especially dangerous to humans because it can be spread quickly through contaminated food. Young children can suffer significantly worse symptoms of food poisoning than adults because their immune systems are not yet fully developed, making antibiotic-resistant strains potentially deadly to young victims.
How Does Bacteria Become Resistant to Antibiotics?
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