What best describes the means by which an individual bacterium will have antibiotic resistance?

An individual bacterium can acquire antibiotic resistance through several mechanisms, including genetic mutations that alter target sites or metabolic pathways, or through horizontal gene transfer, where it obtains resistance genes from other bacteria via transformation, transduction, or conjugation. These adaptations can lead to the bacterium's survival and proliferation in the presence of antibiotics, making infections harder to treat. Over time, the selective pressure exerted by antibiotic use can increase the prevalence of resistant strains within a population.