heteroresistance

heteroresistance

(hĕt″ĕr-ō-rĭ-zĭs′tĭns) [″ + ″] The presence within a population of a pathogen of some organisms that are susceptible to an antimicrobial drug and some that are not. Heteroresistance may explain why failure to eradicate an infection occurs in some patients treated with a seemingly appropriate antibiotic. heteroresistant, adjective