Resistant Bacteria
Biology: Cambridge International GCSE Supplement, topic 15.1.3
Resistant Bacteria
Some strains of bacteria are resistant to certain antibiotics. This means that the bacteria cannot be killed by them and so the antibiotics are less effective in treating them.
Example
- An example of an antibiotic resistant bacteria is MRSA.
- MRSA is often called a “superbug” because it is resistant to many antibiotics.
Reducing new resistant strains
- Measures must be taken to reduce the emergence of new antibiotic resistance strains:
- Doctors should avoid prescribing antibiotics unnecessarily, for example for treating non-serious or viral infections.
- Patients must finish a course of antibiotics to make sure that all of the bacteria are killed.
Test yourself on Resistant Bacteria
How to reduce the chance of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria evolving
How do we describe bacteria that cannot be killed by a certain antibiotic?
Which of the following is an example of an antibiotic resistant bacteria?