Antibiotic Resistance

• What is antibiotic resistance?

  When bacteria become immune to antibiotics
• Why is antibiotic resistance a problem?

  It makes infections harder to treat
• What is the most well-known antibiotic?

  Penicillin
• How did penicillin's effectiveness change over time?

  Some bacteria became resistant to it
• What happens when antibiotics are given to a person with a bacterial infection?

  They aim to kill the bacteria causing the infection
• How do bacteria develop antibiotic resistance?

  Through random mutations in their DNA
• What happens to resistant bacteria when antibiotics are used?

  They survive and replicate quickly
• What do we call bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics?

  Superbugs
• Why is MRSA considered a superbug?

  It is resistant to many antibiotics
• Where is MRSA commonly found?

  In hospitals
• What is the importance of completing a course of antibiotics?

  It helps kill all bacteria, including resistant ones
• How much antibiotics are estimated to be used each year?

  100,000 tons
• Why do doctors sometimes prescribe antibiotics unnecessarily?

  For viral illnesses or non-serious cases
• What is a major reason for high antibiotic use in farming?

  To prevent illness and promote growth in animals
• What are scientists trying to do about antibiotic resistance?

  Develop new antibiotics for resistant strains
• What is a consequence of using antibiotics in healthy animals?

  It creates a breeding ground for resistance
• Why is antibiotic resistance considered a slow-growing problem?

  Developing new antibiotics is difficult and slow