Antibiotic Resistance

Question 1

What is the significance of resistance?

Answer 1

*antibiotic may become redundant for treating an infection for which it was formulate very effective for
*more toxic antibiotics may need used
*more expensive antibiotics need used
*patients may need hospitalised and need to stay longer

Question 2

What does antibiotic resistance mean for the future?

Answer 2

*increased risk of infection spread
*harder to control
*achievements of modern medicine (eg chemo) compromised
*increasing healthcare costs

Question 3

What contributes to causing resistance?

Answer 3

*inappropriate use
*changes in human behaviour
*inadequate sanitation and hygiene
*inadequate infection control practices in hospitals
*restricted availability of affordable antibiotics

Question 4

What are strategies to help prevent resistance?

Answer 4

*better infection control
*reform of antibiotic use
*development of new antibiotics
*vaccines?

Question 5

What two types of genetic antibiotic resistance are there?

Answer 5

*intrinsic
*acquired- mutations in genome- exchange of genes between strains and species

Question 6

What is vertical transfer in genetic antibiotic resistance?

Answer 6

Resistance by selection of mutants RESISTANT to increased concentrations of an antibiotic
Kill off antibiotic sensitive bacteria
Large step- erythromycin
Multiple small steps- tetracycline

Question 7

What is horizontal genetic antibiotic existence?

Answer 7

*the exchange of antibiotic resistant genes (carried on main chromosomes, plasmids)
*by conjugation, translocation, transformation

Question 8

What is the resistance plasmid R?

Answer 8

*resistance genes coding for multiple antibiotic resistance
*resistance transfer genes coding for production of conjugation pilus (F)
*recipient now multiple antibiotic resistant and able to transfer R plasmids to other bacteria

Question 9

How does bacteria come about in bacteria?

Answer 9

*impermeability- antibiotic can’t get into cell
*inactivation- production of B lactamase - destroys- MOST SUCCESSFUL
*modification of antibiotic- inactive drug doesn’t work- chloramphenicol
*altered antibiotic target- no longer recognised by antibiotic
*altered uptake of antibiotic- changes in outer membrane of G eve bacteria inhibits anti uptake
OR
synthesis of new membrane proteins= efflux of antibiotic out of cell