Aspects of bacterial resistance to antimicrobials used in veterinary dermatological practice

Aspects of bacterial resistance to the major classes of antimicrobials used in veterinary dermatology are presented in this review. Resistance of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria to tetracyclines, macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin antibiotics, chloramphenicol, mupirocin, sulphonamides, trimethoprim, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones and β-lactam antibiotics are depicted with respect to the different mechanisms of acquired and intrinsic resistance. Examples are given for the three major resistance mechanisms, enzymatic inactivation, decreased intracellular drug accumulation and target modification. In addition, basic information about mobile genetic elements which carry resistance genes, such as plasmids, transposons and gene cassettes, and their modes of spreading via transduction, conjugation, mobilization and transformation is provided.