Multiple Drug-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Is a Bacterium That Has

Essay

Multiple drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that has developed resistance to a wide range of antibiotics. Its resistance to penicillin, methicillin, and oxacillin is a result of the serial use of these antibiotics, which created a selective environment that favored resistance to the drug being used at the time. This resistance provides the bacteria with the ability to thrive in an environment with standard antibiotics, thereby making it a dangerous human health hazard. Why might one expect MRSA to retain penicillin resistance even if this antibiotic is rarely used?