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 . Because Amanda has cystic fibrosis, she is a frequent patient at her local hospital due to lung infections. On one visit, she was infected with P. aeruginosa . In her lungs, these bacteria secrete a protective substance that forms a layer over the bacteria. This layer is likely a(n) __________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The protective substance secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa that forms a layer over the bacteria in the lungs is known as a biofilm. Biofilms protect bacteria from antibiotics and the immune system, making infections difficult to treat.

Antibiotic Resistance Is One of the Most Serious Emerging Health