In hospitals, it was common practice to clear the air bubble from a syringe by expelling a small amount of the syringe contents into the air. One microbiologist estimated that this practice resulted in the release of up to 30 liters of antibiotic into a typical hospital environment annually. How might this have brought about the appearance of antibiotic-resistant mutants in hospitals

The ejection of syringe contents is to remove air bubbles that can be detrimental to patient health. When antibiotics are repeatedly released this way, microflora in the environment are exposed, albeit at non-lethal doses, which causes said micro-organisms to begin to develop means of neutralizing such antibiotics, thereby contributing to antibiotic resistance and mutations. Also, some syringe contents may not be anti-biotic in nature but they can have mutagenic effects on microbial genome at such concentrations.

Explanation:

Antibiotic resistance is the ability of bacteria or other microbes to resist the effects of an antibiotic. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in some way that reduces or eliminates the effectiveness of drugs, chemicals, or other agents designed to cure or prevent infections. The bacteria survive and continue to multiply causing more harm

The more use and abuse of antibiotics, the more are the chances for bacteria to become antibiotic resistant mutants.

Explanation:

Antibiotic resistance usually occurs when bacteria changes, causing it to reduce or completely diminish the drug's effectiveness, which is prescribed to cure the infection. When bacteria become antibiotic resistant, they survive, continue to multiply and cause harm.