Veterinary surveillance: Surveillance for antimicrobial resistance - Figure 1
Back to antimicrobial resistance index page.
Figure 1. Schematic representation of the development
and spread of antimicrobial resistant microbes brought about by random
mutation and selective pressure from antimicrobial use. As bacteria divide,
the process of natural selection infrequently produces different genetic
mutants (represented as coloured circles). Only those that have mutated
and become resistant to a specific antimicrobial compound are able to
survive in the presence of that antimicrobial (coloured red).
Page last modified:
August 15, 2005