Antibiotic resistance is one of the most serious emerging health problems in the world today. More than 70 percent of disease-causing bacteria are resistant to at least one of the currently available antibiotics. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one such bacterium and is responsible for many hospital-acquired infections. In people with pre-existing conditions such as cystic fibrosis (CF), P. aeruginosa can cause persistent lung infections. CF is a genetic disease in which some membrane transport molecules do not function. In the lungs, this leads to hardened mucus that makes it difficult for gas exchange and mucus that can also harbor bacteria such as P. aeuruginosa . In most people, the mucus lining the nose and lungs would be considered ____________________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The mucus lining the nose and lungs serves as a physical barrier to trap pathogens and prevent them from entering the body, which is an innate, non-specific defense mechanism that all individuals have from birth, making it both a physical barrier to reduce infections and an innate mechanism.

Antibiotic Resistance Is One of the Most Serious Emerging Health