JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The emergence of superbugs that are resistant to various antibioitik most potent though not new in medicine. Sooner or later, the bacteria are going to become resistant to antibiotics (multiresisten) that exist today.

"There is no antibiotic that is sensitive (able to survive long) in killing bacteria. The microbiologists regard, an antibiotic is not an appropriate way to handle the disease. Because if researchers at finding antibiotics to kill bacteria, following years the bacteria will become resistant to existing antibiotics , "says Prof. Sam Soemarto from PAMKI (Society of Clinical Microbiology Expert Indonesia), Thursday (12/08/10).

According to Prof. Sam, basically because the bacteria become resistant in many ways. "First, to separate themselves genetically. Then he can grow into new bacteria that are immune because of the process of mutation and gene transfer to other bacterial antibiotic," explained Prof. Sam.

Mutation itself is the occurrence of protein modifications, namely decrease in protein binding affinity of the bacteria with antibiotics. Protein will withstand the loss of efficiency due to mutation. Later, a different genetic mutation would produce a different type of resistance as well.

"Some mutations cause the bacteria to produce chemicals (enzymes), which is enough to turn off the antibiotics. The same thing happens on super bacteria that produce enzymes NDM-1," said Prof. Sam.

In addition, according to Prof, Sam Soemarto, resistance also occurs due to bacterial antibiotic gene transfer to other bacteria. Bacteria can get the genes resistant to antibiotics than other bacteria in several ways. By doing a simple mating process called "conjugation," bacteria can transfer genetic material, including genetic codes that are resistant to antibiotics (found in plasmids and transposons) from one bacterium to another bacterium.

The bacteria that have resistance genes, either through spontaneous mutation or through genetic exchange with other bacteria, have the ability to fight one or more types of antibiotics. Because bacteria can collect some resistance over time, they can become resistant to several different types of antibiotics.

The use of inappropriate
"Tougher than the bacteria itself can be accelerated by the pattern of antibiotic usage (prescription) dakter used inappropriately," said Prof. Sam.

According to Prof. Sam, most prescriptions for a particular disease should not need to use antibiotics. Suppose a prescription for the flu, which is known clear that the flu virus came from, so that is not affected by antibiotics.

In addition, Prof. Sam explained the bacteria that develop resistance to antibiotics is also due to the abuse and the use of antibiotics that can be bought without a prescription. "Patients taking certain antibiotics like but not necessarily the drugs that treat the disease," says Prof. Sam.

In fact, the indiscriminate use of antibiotics can produce a new type of bacteria that can survive the treatment given or so-called bacterial resistance. These new types of bacteria require higher doses or stronger antibiotics to be destroyed.

On the other hand, continued Prof.. Sam, habits of patients not given antibiotics that doctors spend too influential to increase the resistance of the bacteria.