Introduction: Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a worldwide public health concern. Research priorities for the study and control of this emerging problem include country-wide surveillance.Objective: To review and comment on the contributions by Mexican investigators towards a greater understanding of the mechanisms of bacterial antibiotic resistance.Materials and methods: A comprehensive search of the medical literature on Medline/PubMed between 1973 and July 2013 was performed.Results: The contributions of Mexican investigators have included descriptions of resistance in enteric pathogens, such as Salmonella Typhi, publications on the production of extended spectrum beta-lactamases, metallo-beta-lactamases, and carbapenemases, resistance mechanisms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the evolution of resistance in Gram-positive pathogens, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus spp.Conclusion: The Mexican literature on mechanisms of bacterial resistance is relevant for the development of plans to control the antibiotic resistance crisis.