Antibiotics and Painkillers

Question 1

what are painkillers?

Answer 1

chemicals that relieve symptoms but do not kill pathogens. eg paracetamol and aspirin

Question 2

what are antibiotics?

Answer 2

Antibiotics are substances that slow down or stop the growth of bacteria. eg penicillin and amoxicillin. These can be taken to cure the disease by killing the pathogen. ONLY CURE BACTERIAL DISEASES.

Question 3

why are antibiotics becoming less effective? (name 3 things)

Answer 3

bc of overuse, failure to complete the fully prescribed course by a doctor, use of antibiotics in farming

Question 4

how bc of overuse?

Answer 4

People feel unwell and when going to the doctors, they expect antibiotics to be prescribed. If patients have viral infections, such as the common cold and not a bacterial one, the antibiotics are ineffective and unnecessary.

Question 5

how bc of failure to complete the fully prescribed course?

Answer 5

Patients should always fully complete the prescribed course of antibiotics bc it ensures all bacteria are killed, and none survive to mutate and produce resistant strains.The resistant bacteria reproduce quickly, are difficult to kill and the resistance spreads.

Question 6

how bc of agricultural use?

Answer 6

The high use of antibiotics in agriculture could lead to the spread of antibiotic resistance from animals into human hosts.

Question 7

how can we reduce antibiotic resistance? (4)

Answer 7

take antibiotics when necessary, treat specific bacteria with specific antibiotics, high hospital hygiene levels eg regular hand washing by staff and visitors,
isolate patients who are infected with antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria