6.4 Antibiotic resistance

Question 1

What is necessary for an antibiotic to be effective?

Answer 1

If the microorganism has a binding site for the drug and a metabolic process or biochemical pathway with which the antibiotic interferes

Question 2

How does resistance occur?

Answer 2

Random mutations that cause resistance
Use of antibiotic results in the mutated bacterium being the only survivors
Will then produce a new population which will inherit the mutation

Question 3

How is resistance spread to other species?

Answer 3

Genes for resistance are carried on small loops of DNA called plasmids
Plasmids can be transferred onto other organisms or other species through horizontal transmission

Question 4

How can spread of resistance be controlled?

Answer 4

Only using antibiotics when necessary
Use the whole course of antibiotics
Use appropriate antibiotics
Hygiene measures: Alcohol based gels to be used by medical staff, patients and visitors, doctors and staff should wear clean clothing, isolation of infected patients

Question 5

Give an example of the ‘evolutionary race’

Answer 5

The constantly changing protein coat of HIV means that the virus is not recognised and destroyed by the immune system

Question 6

What is MRSA

Answer 6

A strain of Staphylococcus Aureus that is resistance to several different antibiotics

Question 7

What are healthcare-associated infections

Answer 7

Infections that are acquired by patients while they are in hospital/care facilities
May be the result of poor hygiene between patients or the result of antibiotic treatment