Multiple drug resistance

Multiple Drug Resistance

Multiple drug resistance (pronounced: mʌltɪpəl drʌg rɪˈzɪstəns), also known as MDR, is a phenomenon that occurs when a microorganism or cancer cell develops resistance to multiple antimicrobial drugs or chemotherapy drugs that were previously effective. The term is often used in the context of bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics, but it can also apply to other types of microorganisms or cancer cells.

Etymology

The term "multiple drug resistance" is derived from the English words "multiple" (meaning many), "drug" (a substance used to treat disease), and "resistance" (the ability to withstand something). It was first used in the mid-20th century to describe bacteria that had developed resistance to multiple antibiotics.

Mechanisms of Multiple Drug Resistance

There are several mechanisms by which microorganisms or cancer cells can develop multiple drug resistance. These include:

Efflux pumps: These are proteins that pump drugs out of the cell, reducing their concentration and effectiveness.
Drug inactivation: The microorganism or cancer cell may produce enzymes that inactivate the drug.
Target modification: The target of the drug within the cell may be modified so that the drug can no longer bind to it.
DNA repair: The cell may increase its ability to repair DNA damage caused by the drug.

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Multiple drug resistance
Wikipedia's article - Multiple drug resistance

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Multiple drug resistance