the challenges of antibiotic resistance Flashcards
what is the “public health nightmare” concerning antibiotic use?
the looming threat of incurable Staphylococcus aureus- increasing bacterial resistance to many antibiotics that once cured bacterial diseases
why have death rates for diseases such as tuberculosis started to rise again?
strains of at least three bacterial species capable of causing life-threatening illnesses already evade every antibiotic- because of the rise in resistance, death rates are rising
give 2 examples of how bacteria are a natural and necessary part of life
some bacteria protect us from disease- they compete with and limit the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria
bacteria are microscopic, single-celled entities found on inanimate surfaces and on parts of the body that make contact with the outer world
how does an antibiotic “heal” a bacterial infection (how does it kill the microbe)?
they can produce long lasting change in the kinds and proportions of bacteria
give 2 ways in which bacteria can acquire resistance to an antibiotic
the prevalence of resistance genes
the extent of antibiotic use
give 2 ways that bacteria “share” their resistance traits with one another
resistance genes are commonly carried on plasmids, or on the bacterial chromosome. bacterium may pass resistance traits to others by giving them a useful plasmid
resistance genes can also be transferred by viruses that extract a gene from one bacterial cell and inject it into a different one
after a bacterial cell dies it will release its contents into the environment, where another cell may take a liberated gene
antibiotics often become “self defeating” by encouraging resistant bacteria- give one example of how antibiotics promote resistance
when antibiotics attack harmful bacteria, they also affect benign bacteria. these benign bacteria may have limited the expansion of pathogens
if you were taking an antibiotic to treat acne, explain how this could cause antibiotic resistant bacteria on the skin of another family member to rise
when one member of a household chronically takes an antibiotic to treat acne, the concentration of antibiotic resistant bacteria on the skin of family members rises
why is it always important to completely finish a prescription of antibiotics whether you begin feeling better or not?
the improper dosing will fail to eliminate the disease agent completely, and will encourage growth of the most resistant strains, which may later produce hard-to-treat disorders
how can the antibiotics agriculturalists use to keep livestock and crops healthy end up in our system?
through the food chain
give 3 ways the public can help decrease the prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria
thoroughly wash raw fruits and vegetables
finish full prescriptions
refrain from taking antibiotics for colds and other viral infections
penicillin is probably the most well known antibiotic, but some bacteria have become resistant to it. explain how
bacteria avoids penicillin and other antibiotics by switching on an enzyme (penicillinase) that degrades the compounds
