Define "antibiotic resistance."

Antibiotic resistance refers to the phenomenon where bacteria undergo changes that reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of antibiotics designed to kill them or inhibit their growth. This evolutionary process may occur due to genetic mutations or the acquisition of resistance genes, often as a result of selective pressure from the use of antibiotics. When antibiotics are used, sensitive bacteria are killed, but resistant ones may survive and proliferate, leading to infections that are harder to treat.

While misuse and over-prescription of antibiotics can contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance, these actions don't define the concept itself. Instead, they are factors that might drive the emergence of resistance. Additionally, bacterial resistance to vaccines is a different topic, as vaccines are designed to provoke an immune response rather than act on bacterial growth directly, which makes this choice unrelated to the definition of antibiotic resistance. Therefore, the most accurate definition centers on the specific biological changes in bacteria that lead to reduced susceptibility to antibiotic treatment.