Why can bacteria adapt to antibiotics, but not adapt to environmental things like heat or acids/soaps (Salmonella as an example)?

Question

Edit: I’ve had a lot of fun reading all of your analogies

In: 64

Answer 1

Killing bacteria is easy. Killing bacteria without killing the patient takes a much more subtle approach. That more subtle approach means that the bacteria have a chance to adapt.

Also: Soap does not kill bacteria! Soap only helps /remove/ bacteria!

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EDIT: It’s like the difference between trying to kill someone with a slow acting poison vs dropping them into a volcano. The slow acting poison means some individuals might actually survive.