A1 Understand health issues page 14

Question 1

What is antibiotic stewardship?

Answer 1

Antibiotic stewardship is the practice of only prescribing antibiotics for proven bacterial infections and using them only for as long as necessary.

Question 2

Why is educating doctors and patients about antibiotic stewardship important?

Answer 2

Educating both doctors and patients is important to reduce the long-term over-prescribing of antibiotics, which contributes to antibiotic resistance.

Question 3

What is one approach to reducing antibiotic resistance through the prescription of antibiotics?

Answer 3

One approach is to rotate the prescription of antibiotics, using different antibiotics in sequence over time to reduce bacterial resistance.

Question 4

What are some potential alternatives being explored to combat antibiotic resistance?

Answer 4

Alternatives being explored include bacteriophages, bacteriocins, immunotherapies, and vaccination to combat antibiotic resistance.

Question 5

How do vaccines help reduce the overuse of antibiotics?

Answer 5

Vaccines stimulate memory cells in the immune system to prevent infection, reducing the need for antibiotics by preventing diseases.

Question 6

What do antibiotics do, and what do antimicrobials act against?

Answer 6

Antibiotics treat bacterial infections by killing bacteria or inhibiting their ability to reproduce, while antimicrobials act against bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and other organisms.