Are we building up immunity to antibiotics? The short answer is no. Bacteria are the ones becoming resistant to antibiotics. But I realize this concept can be confusing. So, in this post, I explain the difference between us building up immunity to antibiotics vs. bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics. Then, I briefly describe the problem of antibiotic resistance in bacteria and why it matters.
When I was a postdoctoral researcher in a microbiology lab, my job was always a fun conversation piece — at least it is for me. Every time I met someone new and they asked about it, I’d give them a brief summary of my research. But I would do my best not to dive too far too quickly. I’d tell them that I worked at the University of Mississippi Medical Center studying antibiotic resistance in bacteria. And if they asked more questions, I’d elaborate. If not, then I wouldn’t bombard them with details.
One time, I told someone about my research on antibiotic resistance, and their response was, “Oh, that’s so important because we are building up immunity to antibiotics.”
That conversation made me realize that it’s easy to misunderstand how antibiotic resistance works. It seems to be a common misconception that “we are building up immunity” to antibiotics. But, in reality, it’s quite different.
Why is it incorrect to say, “we are building up immunity to antibiotics”?
“We” humans are not “building up immunity” to antibiotics (thankfully). It’s the bacteria in our bodies or in the environment that — when exposed to antibiotics — can gain resistance to those antibiotics. It has nothing to do with our immune systems.
The definition of immunity, according to Merriam-Webster, is “a condition of being able to resist a particular disease especially through preventing development of a pathogenic microorganism or by counteracting the effects of its products.” Bacteria are able to resist antibiotics. But based on the definition, this word is meant to refer to the immune system combatting pathogenic microbes. Using the word immunity in the context of antibiotic resistance is confusing. So, I propose that we use the word “resistance” rather than “immunity” when referring to bacteria’s ability to survive in the presence of antibiotics.
Here’s a great GIF from the World Health Organization about this very topic:
What is antibiotic resistance?
Antibiotic resistance is a major problem everywhere in the world. Bacteria can gain resistance to antibiotics, meaning that they can be exposed to a higher level of antibiotics than they were before — and survive the treatment.
Bacteria can gain resistance through mutations in their genes or through the acquisition of new genes. These events, where bacteria gain resistance, can be due to the overuse or misuse of antibiotics. When bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, those antibiotics no longer work as well, and the infections that those bacteria cause are much more difficult to treat.
If you’d like to learn more about antibiotic resistance, the CDC has a great FAQ page on antibiotics and resistance.
Do you have more questions about antibiotic resistance? Let me know in the comments!
Who is Justine Dees? What is The Joyful Microbe blog?
