Multidrug resistance
Multidrug Resistance
Multidrug resistance (MDR) (/ˈmʌltiˌdrʌɡ rɪˈzɪstəns/) is a phenomenon that occurs when a microorganism or cancer cell develops resistance to a range of drugs designed to kill it.
Etymology
The term "multidrug resistance" is derived from the English words "multi" meaning many, "drug" referring to a medicine or other substance which has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body, and "resistance" meaning the ability not to be affected by something, especially adversely.
Definition
Multidrug resistance is a condition enabling a disease-causing organism to withstand distinct drugs or chemicals of a wide range of structure and function targeted at eradicating the organism. Organisms that display multidrug resistance can be resistant to different drugs at different levels.
Mechanisms
The mechanisms of multidrug resistance in bacteria include efflux pump overexpression, porin loss, and drug target modification. In cancer cells, mechanisms include increased drug efflux, alterations in drug targets, and increased DNA repair.
Related Terms
- Antibiotic resistance: The ability of a microorganism to withstand the effects of an antibiotic.
- Chemotherapy: The treatment of disease by the use of chemical substances, especially the treatment of cancer by cytotoxic and other drugs.
- Pharmacology: The branch of medicine concerned with the uses, effects, and modes of action of drugs.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Multidrug resistance
- Wikipedia's article - Multidrug resistance
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