Microbes

Question 1

What are microbes?

Answer 1

Microbes or microorganisms are tiny living things. so small you need a microscope to see them.

Question 2

What are the three main groups of microbes?

Answer 2

• bacteria
• virus
• fungi

Question 3

What do microbes need to survive?

Answer 3

microbes need the same things we do to survive;

water, food and oxygen

Question 4

What is the name of a microbe that causes disease?

Answer 4

A pathogen

Question 5

Name and give examples of each type of disease caused by microbes

Answer 5

Bacterial - gonorrhoea, chlamydia, salmonella and tuberculosis

Viral - HIV leading to AIDS, cold, flu, mumps, measles, rubella and polio

Fungal - athlete’s foot

Question 6

Name the disease causing microbe, spread and control/prevention/treatment for each bacterial disease

Answer 6

Salmonella food poisoning

• Spread; from contaminated food
• Prevention; Always cook food well. Don’t mix cooked and uncooked food
• Treatment; antibiotics

Gonorrhea

• Spread; through sexual contact
• Prevention; using condom will reduce risk of infection
• Treatment; antibiotics

Tuberculosis

• Spread; airborne (droplet infection)
• Prevention; BOG vaccination
• Treatment; drugs including antibiotics

Chlamydia

• Spread; sexual contact
• Prevention; using condom will reduce risk of infection
• Treatment; antibiotics

Question 7

Name the disease causing microbe, spread and control/prevention/treatment for each Viral disease

Answer 7

HIV which leads to AIDS

• Spread; exchange of bodily fluids during sex, infected blood
• Prevention; using condom will reduce risk of infection
• Treatment; No cure, drug addicts not sharing needles

Rubella

• Spread; airborne (droplet infection) through coughing and sneezing
• Prevention; MMR vaccination

Measles

• Spread; airborne (droplet infection) or by contact
• Prevention; MMR vaccination

Mumps

• Spread; airborne (droplet infection)
• Prevention; MMR vaccination

Colds and Flu

• Spread; airborne (droplet infection)
• Prevention; Flu vaccination for targeted groups

Polio

• spread; usually through drinking water contaminated with faeces
• Prevention; polio vaccination

Question 8

Name the disease causing microbe, spread and control/prevention/treatment for fungal disease

Answer 8

Athlete’s foot

• Spread; contact
• Prevention; avoid direct contact in areas where sporta likely to be present e.g. where flip flops in changing room

Question 9

Name safety precautions that need to be followed when growing or culturing microbes

Answer 9

• not eating or drinking in the laboratory
• wear gloves and white coats
• clean benches with disinfectant
• washing hands