system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Bacterial Resistance to Drugs

I'd like to know how some bacteria are able to survive, reproduce and further mutate. Also how to defeat the potential yet extreme pandemic.

EDIT: Thanks for clearing that up!
gpt
Drugs are small molecules that interact with the machinery of all types of cells (human, plant, bacteria, fungi etc.). Typically they block or repress the function of some essential cellular component (typically an enzyme/protein). Drugs are able to interact with these cellular parts because they have a shape that fits like a puzzle piece into its target.

Mutation is a natural process. When a bacterium is ready to reproduce it makes a copy of its chromosome(s) (made of DNA and consisting of genes) and divides into two daughter cells. This copying process is very accurate, but NOT perfect. Some cells in a growing population of bacteria will have mutations that were not found in their ancestors. Some of these mutations may occur in gene that codes for cellular parts that are drug targets. When a mutation occurs in one of these genes it may alter the site on a protein where drugs bind. The two will no longer fit together like puzzle pieces and the drug will not work or will be less effective. Other mutations may help cells deal with drugs in different ways. Enzymes may gain new functions that can cause them to expel or break down drugs. 

Another important thing to know is that bacteria "have sex." They can exchange pieces of DNA with one another or uptake DNA from their environment left over by dead cells. Some of this transferred DNA may contain genes that confer antibiotic resistance. When drugs are administered to a population of bacteria, most of them will be killed but if any resistant mutants were in the population they now have the opportunity to grow and reproduce and all of their surviving descendants will contain their genes for antibiotic resistance because they are essentially making a bunch of clones of themselves.

There is much debate going on about the best way to deal with wide-spread antibiotic resistance. We are in this situation because bacteria evolve faster than our ability to design and commercialize new drugs. Many scientists would say we need to use antibiotics less often, especially in livestock. Others want to find new combinations of drugs that work synergistically with one another. Multiple approaches will likely need to be used to deal with these issues.