Antibiotic Resistance

Question 1

What is a major reason for the decrease in effectiveness of commonly prescribed antibiotics?

Answer 1

Overuse of antibiotics and antibiotics being prescribed when not necessary

This includes instances where antibiotics are given for viral infections, where they are ineffective.

Question 2

How is large scale use of antibiotics in farming contributing to antibiotic resistance?

Answer 2

Antibiotics are used to prevent disease in livestock kept in close quarters, even when animals are not sick

This practice can lead to the development of resistant bacteria that can be transmitted to humans.

Question 3

What patient behavior contributes to antibiotic resistance?

Answer 3

Patients failing to complete the full course of antibiotics prescribed by doctors

Incomplete courses can allow surviving bacteria to adapt and develop resistance.

Question 4

What has led to a reduction in the effectiveness of antibiotics?

Answer 4

Various factors have led to a reduction in the effectiveness of antibiotics and an increase in the incidence of antibiotic resistance

Factors include overuse and misuse of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture.

Question 5

What is a consequence of widespread use of antibiotics in certain areas?

Answer 5

Bacteria may have plasmids containing resistance genes for several different antibiotics, leading to multiple resistance

This presents a significant problem for doctors.

Question 6

How can antibiotic resistance spread from non-pathogenic to pathogenic bacteria?

Answer 6

Resistance may first appear in a non-pathogenic bacterium and then be passed on to a pathogenic species by horizontal transmission

Horizontal transmission refers to the transfer of genetic material between bacteria through mechanisms such as conjugation.