Lesson 16: Resistant bacteria

Question 1

Why can bacteria evolve rapidly?

Answer 1

• Bacteria can evolve rapidly because they reproduce at a fast rate.

Question 2

What do mutations of bacterial pathogens produce?

Answer 2

• Mutations of bacterial pathogens produce new strains.

Question 3

What happens after a bacterial pathogen has had a mutation producing an anti-biotic resistant strand of bacteria?

Answer 3

1.) The strain of bacteria will not be killed by the antibiotic.
2.) The strain of bacteria will survive and reproduce, so the population of the resistant strain rises.
3.) The resistant strain will then spread because people are not immune to it and there is no effective treatment.

Question 4

Give an example of a bacterial strain that is resistant to antibiotics.

Answer 4

MRSA

Question 5

How can we reduce the rate of development of antibiotic resistant strains?

3 different ways!!

Answer 5

• Doctors should not prescribe antibiotics inappropriately, such as
  treating non-serious or viral infections.
• Patients should complete their course of antibiotics so all bacteria are killed and none survive to mutate and form resistant strains.
• the agricultural use of antibiotics should be restricted.

Question 6

True or False

The devlopment of new antibiotics is quick and cheap.

Answer 6

• False.
• The development of new antibiotics is costly and slow.

Question 7

What is the issue with the devlopment of new antibiotics being costly and slow?

Answer 7

• The devlopment is unlikely to
  keep up with the emergence of new resistant strains.