What is one direct consequence of antibiotic resistance in bacteria?

The choice of failure of standard treatments directly addresses a key consequence of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. As bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics, the effectiveness of these standard medical treatments diminishes. This means that infections caused by resistant bacteria cannot be easily treated with the previously effective medications, leading to treatment failures. Consequently, patients may experience prolonged illness, complications, or even death due to the inability to manage their bacterial infections effectively.

In contrast, the other options do not encapsulate the primary impact of antibiotic resistance as clearly. Increased genetic diversity and bacterial population growth may occur through natural processes in bacteria, but they do not specifically relate to the adverse effects that arise from antibiotic resistance. Decreased survival rates might be relevant, but the core issue revolves around the failure of existing treatments to combat resistant strains, making it a more direct consequence of this public health challenge.