Concept
Efflux pump
Membrane transporter that expels drugs
EFF-luks pump
High-yield clue
Efflux pumps actively export drugs out of the cell and are a classic cause of low-level multidrug resistance.
Overview
A membrane transport protein that actively pumps antibiotics and other toxic compounds out of the bacterial cell, lowering the intracellular drug concentration. It is a major mechanism of multidrug resistance.
Classification
- Membrane transport protein
- Energy-dependent export
- RND family in Gram-negatives
- Broad or narrow substrate range
Lab & identification clues
- Multidrug-efflux vocabulary
- Tetracycline efflux (tet) concept
- RND tripartite-pump vocabulary
Associations
- Tetracycline and fluoroquinolone resistance
- Prominent in Pseudomonas
- Combines with reduced permeability
Commonly confused with
- Porin loss
- Beta-lactamase enzymatic resistance
Frequently asked questions
What is Efflux pump?
A membrane transport protein that actively pumps antibiotics and other toxic compounds out of the bacterial cell, lowering the intracellular drug concentration. It is a major mechanism of multidrug resistance.
What is the high-yield clue for Efflux pump?
Efflux pumps actively export drugs out of the cell and are a classic cause of low-level multidrug resistance.
What is Efflux pump associated with?
Efflux pump is associated with Tetracycline and fluoroquinolone resistance, Prominent in Pseudomonas, and Combines with reduced permeability.
What is Efflux pump commonly confused with?
Efflux pump is commonly confused with Porin loss and Beta-lactamase enzymatic resistance.
Original microbiology concept summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC/WHO topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment selection, infection-control instructions, or specimen-handling guidance.