Antibiotics, Resistance And Superbugs Flashcards
What are antibiotics
A group of chemicals that stop bacterial growth. They are most commonly used to treat infections and are prescribed by doctors as tablets, creams and medicines.
Who discovered the first antibiotic
Alexander Fleming.
What is a major problem with overuse of antibiotics
There are now many antibiotics available and they save many lives.
In recent years, a problem is overuse of antibiotics has developed.
Some types of bacteria are now resistant to certain antibiotics.
What is a superbug
Bacteria that are now resistant to certain types of antibiotics are often referred to as ‘superbugs’ by newspapers.
What are some commonly known superbugs
MRSA and C.defficile.
Why are superbugs hard to treat with antibiotics
These bacteria are very hard to stop with antibiotics as they are thought to have developed as they mutated to produce new genes that allow them to be resistant to most antibiotics.
Describe what Fleming noticed on his bacterial growth plates when he returned from holidays
An interesting pattern of growth, an area that was no longer covered in bacteria (clear zone)
What conclusion did Fleming draw from this observation
The mould was doing something to kill the bacteria.
Where did Fleming think the mould had come from
Outside air
What was the experiment carried out by Florey and chain to show the lifesaving effects of penicillin
Injecting mice with a lethal dose of bacteria then injecting half the mice with penicillin. The mice who were injected, survived. The others did not.
Why don’t doctors prescribe as many antibiotics as they used to
Costs millions.
Could be useless in a few years.
Doctors let the infections run their course naturally.
This is called de-escalating.
This should slow down the number of resistant bacteria.
What is the sequence of events in the rise of a superbug where the bacteria is antibiotic resistant
An injury is sustained.
The would is infected.
Antibiotics are prescribed.
Wound contains both susceptible and resistant bacteria.
Antibiotics destroy the susceptible bacteria but the resistant bacteria remain.
Course of antibiotics is completed but bacteria still remains.
Resistant bacteria start to multiply and remain in system.
If the antibiotics are prescribed again, they will have no effect and an alternate has to be found.
