Final answer:
The common mechanism for the development of resistance to antibiotics by bacteria is the enhanced expression of efflux transporters by bacterial cells that can pump the antibiotic out of the bacteria.
Step-by-step explanation:
The common mechanism for the development of resistance to antibiotics by bacteria is the enhanced expression of efflux transporters by bacterial cells that can pump the antibiotic out of the bacteria. Efflux pumps are integral membrane proteins that help remove antibiotics from the cell, preventing their accumulation to a level that would be antibacterial. This mechanism of resistance is commonly effective against a wide range of antimicrobials in multiple classes. For example, resistance to beta-lactams, tetracyclines, and fluoroquinolones often occurs through active efflux out of the cell.