How Do Efflux Pumps Contribute to Antibiotic Resistance?
Efflux pumps contribute to antibiotic resistance by actively transporting antibiotics out of bacterial cells, thereby reducing the intracellular concentration of the drug to sub-therapeutic levels. This allows bacteria to survive and propagate despite the presence of antibiotics. This mechanism is particularly concerning in the treatment of multidrug-resistant organisms, where the presence of efflux pumps can render multiple antibiotics ineffective.
