Antibiotic Resistance
Biology: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 3.1.16
Antibiotic Resistance
Some strains of bacteria are resistant to certain antibiotics. This means that these antibiotics cannot kill them.
MRSA
- MRSA is often called a “superbug” because it is resistant to many antibiotics.
How to stop antibiotic resistance?
- To help prevent strains of resistant bacteria from developing:
- Doctors should only prescribe antibiotics if they are needed and not for minor infections or viral infections.
- Patients should complete their course of antibiotics to ensure all bacteria are killed.
Test yourself on Antibiotic Resistance
Why is MRSA often described as a "superbug"?
What happens to non-resistant bacteria when a population of bacteria is treated with an antibiotic?
What type of offspring do resistant bacteria produce when they reproduce?
When do the mutations that make bacteria resistant to an antibiotic occur?
Why should patients complete their full course of antibiotics?