Drugs

Question 1

What is a drug?

Answer 1

any substance taken into the body that modifies or affects chemical reactions in the body

Question 2

Where is all drug metabolism done?

Answer 2

All drug metabolism is done in the liver

Question 3

What are antibiotics?

Answer 3

Antibiotics arechemical substancesmade by certainfungi or bacteriathat affect the working of bacterial cells, either bydisrupting their structure or functionor bypreventing them from reproducing (kill infective bacteria without harming body cells)

Question 4

What do antibiotics kill?

Answer 4

Antibiotics kill bacteria but do not affect viruses

Question 5

How do antibiotics kill bacterial cells?

Answer 5

Antibiotics damage the bacterial cells by inhibiting their cellular processes, but do not damage the host cells. They target the cell wall (stop the growth of cell wall) and target enzymes involved in metabolism (which is why they don’t affect viruses as viruses don’t have any of these)

Question 6

How does antibiotic resistance occur?

Answer 6

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria aren’t affected by an antibiotic due to a mutation in their genetic information

Question 7

How do antibiotic resistant bacteria spread?

Answer 7

When the full population of bacteria isn’t eradicated by the antibiotic, a couple antibiotic resistant bacteria remain. The bacteria reproduce asexually and produce genetic copies of themselves so these antibiotic resistant bacteria multiply and form a larger population that is more difficult to control now that antibiotics don’t work on them.

Question 8

How to reduce rate of antibiotic resistant bacteria forming?

Answer 8

1. Only take antibiotics when its necessary
   - Antibiotics are being overprescribed by doctors leading to them being overused when they aren’t necessary which reduces the effectiveness of the antibiotic and makes the pathogens gain resistance. It creates selective pressure which causes the susceptible bacteria (like good bacteria) to be killed and the resistant bacteria to remain and multiply quickly
2. Finish antibiotic prescription (ensure the entire course is completed even if you feel better)
   - Can lead to traces of antibiotic resistant bacteria remaining and spreading (whole population not killed)

Question 9

MRSA

Answer 9

Superbugs like MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus) which are extremely resistant to antibiotics can be easily spread in hospitals as there is a greater chance of bacteria entering the body in hospital which increases the risk of developing a severe infection