Molecular mechanism of action, resistance to antibiotics and modern approaches: An overview

Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine, significantly reduced the mortality rate due to microbial contamination. These drugs exert their effect through targeting particular bacterial structures and functions, such as cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis, and replication of DNA, thereby resulting in bacterial growth inhibition or killing the microorganisms. Despite their success, the prevalent and often improper use of antibiotics has led to the emergence of antibiotic resistance, a rising worldwide health concern. Resistance occurs when bacteria change mechanisms to avoid the antibiotic's effects, such as altering drug targets, producing enzymes that deactivate the drug, or effluxing the drug from the cell. This phenomenon is driven by genetic mutations, horizontal gene transfer, and discriminatory compression from overuse or misuse of antibiotics. The implications of antibiotic resistance are profound, as it threatens the effectiveness of current treatment regimens and complicates the management of infectious diseases. This review explores the mechanisms through which antibiotics exert their effects, the various strategies bacteria employ to resist these drugs, and the crucial need for new antibiotics and alternative therapeutic strategies to combat the rise of resistant pathogens. • The antibiotics have revolutionized for modern medicine, significantly reducing death level from bacterial pollutions. • Targeting particular bacterial cell wall, protein synthesis and replication of DNA, thereby bacterial growth inhibition. • Resistance occurs when bacteria change mechanisms to avoid the antibiotics effects, such as altering drug targets. • Phenomenon is driven by genetic mutations, horizontal gene transfer, discriminatory compression, misuse of antibiotics. • The crucial needs for new antibiotics and alternative therapeutic strategies to combat the rise of resistant infections.