Antibiotics

• What do antibiotics do?

  They are drugs that kill bacteria
• What do we call bacteria that cannot be killed by antibiotics?

  Antibiotic resistant bacteria
• What causes antibiotic resistance to happen?

  A mutation gives bacteria an advantage
• Why do antibiotic resistant bacteria spread?

  They reproduce and cannot be easily killed
• What are three ways to reduce antibiotic resistance?

  1. Prescribe antibiotics only for bacterial infections
  2. Complete the full course of antibiotics
  3. Farmers should limit antibiotic use in animals
• Why should doctors prescribe antibiotics only for bacterial infections?

  Antibiotics will not kill viruses
• Why do patients need to take the full course of antibiotics?

  To ensure all bacteria are destroyed
• How can farmers help stop antibiotic resistant bacteria forming?

  By reducing antibiotic use in animals
• Why is developing new antibiotics difficult?

  The development is slow and expensive