4.6.3.7 Resistant Bacteria Flashcards
1
Q
When are bacteria labelled are resistant?
A
- when they are not killed by antibiotics which previously were used as cures against them
2
Q
Why can bacteria evolve rapidly?
A
- reproduce at a fast rate
3
Q
What can mutations during reproduction result in?
A
- new genes
- creates new strain
4
Q
What does exposure to antibiotics create?
A
- selection pressure
- those with antibiotic resistant genes survive and those without die
5
Q
What happens when only bacteria with antibiotic resistant genes survive?
A
- reproduce and pass on advantageous gene to offspring, resulting in the population of bacteria with this gene increasing
6
Q
Why do bacterial diseases spread rapidly?
A
- people aren’t immune to new resistant bacteria and there is no treatment
7
Q
What is an example of resistant bacteria?
A
- MRSA
8
Q
What is MRSA?
A
- resistant bacteria
- called a superbug as it is resistant to many different types of antibiotics
- common in hospitals: spreads when doctors and nurses move to different patients
9
Q
How can you slow the development of resistance in bacteria?
A
- antibiotics should not be given for viral or non-serious infections
- specific antibiotics should be given for specific bacteria
- patients should complete course of antibiotics
- antibiotics should be used less in agriculture
10
Q
Why should patients complete their course of antibiotics to slow the development?
A
- some bacteria may survive otherwise and mutate to become antibiotic resistant
11
Q
Why should antibiotics be used less in agriculture to slow the development?
A
- overuse when preventing livestock from dying from disease leads to resistance
- leads to them being transferred to humans when they consume meat
12
Q
How do you slow the transmission of the bacteria?
A
- maintain high standards of hygiene in hospitals
- medical staff and visitors should wash hands regularly
- medical staff should wear disposable clothing or clothing that is regularly sterilised
13
Q
Why is it difficult to keep up with the development of resistant strains?
A
- development of antibiotics is expensive and slow
