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The success of antibioticantibiotic
Medicine that is used to treat bacterial infections and works by killing or stopping the growth and reproduction of bacteria. These can be specific to a particular bacteria or act on groups of related bacteria.
s has meant that they have been used increasingly over the last sixty years. They are not only used to treat humans, but also to treat sick animals. In the past antibiotics have been added to animal feeds to reduce infection and improve the growth of farm livestock; this use of antibiotics has been banned in the EU since 2006.
Bacteriabacteria
Single-celled organism. Has a cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm. Its DNA is loosely-coiled in the cytoplasm and there is no distinct nucleus.
frequently mutate and as a result strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteriaantibiotic-resistant bacteria
Bacteria that are not easily killed by antibiotics.
have appeared. The widespread use of antibiotics has encouraged the appearance of these resistant strains of bacteria. The more often bacteria are exposed to an antibiotic, the bigger the risk that a resistant strain will evolve.
Often, after taking the antibiotics for just a few days, the symptoms of the infection can disappear. This is because the majority of the bacteria have been killed but a few will remain alive. These are the ones that have the greatest resistance to the antibiotic being used and stopping the treatment early gives them a chance to survive. They will reproduce so that the infection returns and this time all of the bacteria will be of the resistant type. These bacteria can be transmitted to others and treating the infection will require a different antibiotic.
One such antibiotic resistant superbug is called MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). The bacteria is sometimes found in hospitals and can infect wounds following surgery or cause pneumoniapneumonia
Swelling (inflammation) of the tissue in the lungs, often initially caused by a virus and often complicated by a secondary bacterial infection.
. These infections can be serious and need treating with a range of antibacterial medicines. Hospitals work hard to maintain high standards of hygiene to prevent the outbreak of MRSA infections. Disinfecting surfaces and using antisepticantiseptic
A chemical which can destroy microorganisms. Antiseptics are applied to the surface of the skin or to living tissue to reduce the possibility of infection.
hand washes and gels help to prevent the spread of these infections.
Developing antibiotic resistance
Photo courtesy of CDC
Only using antibioticantibiotic
Medicine that is used to treat bacterial infections and works by killing or stopping the growth and reproduction of bacteria. These can be specific to a particular bacteria or act on groups of related bacteria.
s when they are absolutely necessary will help to stop the evolution of resistant strains of bacteriabacteria
Single-celled organism. Has a cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm. Its DNA is loosely-coiled in the cytoplasm and there is no distinct nucleus.
.
Another a simple way to reduce resistance is to make certain that any course of antibiotic treatment is completed.
e-bug (www.e-bug.eu) is a free educational resource produced by Public Health England for classroom and home use and makes learning about micro-organisms, the spread, prevention and treatment of infection fun and accessible for all students.