15) Drugs

Question 1

1.1. Describe a drug

Answer 1

Any substance taken into the body that affects chemical reactions in the body

Question 2

1.2. Describe the use of antibiotics for treatment of bacterial infections

Answer 2

Disrupt the structure or function of drugs or prevent their reproduction

Target bacteria: specific structures of processes and don’t harm animal cells

Penicillin weakens new cell walls in dividing bacteria, which ruptures as they grow

Question 3

1.3. What reduces the effectiveness of antibiotics?

Answer 3

Some bacteria are resistant to antibiotics

Question 4

1.4. What do antibiotics not affect and why?

Answer 4

Viruses, since they have have no cellular structure or processes as they aren’t alive

Question 5

1.5. Explain how using antibiotics only when essential can limit the development of resistant bacteria such as MRSA

Answer 5

1. Mutations in bacterial DNA can give it a way to resist a particular antibiotic
2. Only resistant bacteria survive it, so there is less competition for nutrients
3. The resistant bacteria multiply until the whole population is resistant
4. The antibiotic is less effective to treat medical conditions
5. Resistant bacteria are called superbugs and the most common is MRSA

Some patients stop taking them because they feel better, but is a chance for bacteria to develop resistances
Resistant bacteria spreads to humans through meat