• SalamanderOPMA
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      4 years ago

      Yes, it does! This paper shows an example of the presence of populations of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the wild. These populations thrive on the skin of hedgehogs infected with a fungus that produces the antibiotic. The over use of antibiotics applies a new selection pressures that allows antibiotic resistant bacteria to thrive, so their populations increase.

      Exactly how these resistant bacteria come to exist is not always clear. Resistant bacteria can emerge via new mutations, gene transfer, or they may already be present in the wild. As this work shows, at least some strains of resistant Staphylococcus aureus probably come from the wild.