General medical words
What Are Drug-Resistant Bacteria? Antibiotic Labels
Drug-Resistant Bacteria · say it: drug rih-ZIS-tunt bak-TEER-ee-uhAlso written: antibiotic resistance, antimicrobial resistance, AMR, resistant bacteria, superbugs
Short answer
Drug-resistant bacteria are bacteria that have changed so certain antibiotics no longer kill them or stop them growing.
What it means
Drug-resistant bacteria are bacteria that can survive antibiotics that used to work against them. Bacteria can become resistant through changes in their genes, and resistant bacteria can then spread between people. Infections caused by them can be harder to treat and may need different or stronger antibiotics.
Almost every antibiotic label includes a statement about drug-resistant bacteria. It reminds prescribers and patients that antibiotics should be used only for bacterial infections and taken as directed, because unnecessary use and unfinished courses help resistance develop. Culture and sensitivity reports show which antibiotics are likely to work on the bacteria found.
It is the bacteria that become resistant, not the person. Your body does not become 'immune' to antibiotics from taking them.
Where you may see it
- The 'Usage' statement on antibiotic labels
- Culture and sensitivity reports ('R' for resistant)
- Hospital infection control notices
📄 How it looks on a report
Sensitivity: Amoxicillin R, Nitrofurantoin S.
🙅 What it does not mean
- It is not your body that becomes resistant; it is the bacteria.
- Having a resistant infection does not mean it cannot be treated; other antibiotics may work.
- Resistance is not only caused by your own antibiotic use; resistant bacteria can spread.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
🧾 Reports where you will see “Drug-Resistant Bacteria”
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💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Drug-Resistant Bacteria”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Cephalexin
a cephalosporin antibacterial medicine (an antibiotic that treats bacterial infections)
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Drug-Resistant Bacteria” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
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General information about a medical word, not advice about your own results. Ask the clinician who ordered the test what it means for you.