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 initially affect bacteria?

  It killed many different types of bacteria
• How does antibiotic resistance develop in bacteria?

  Through random mutations in their DNA
• What happens when a resistant bacterium survives antibiotic treatment?

  It forms a new colony of resistant bacteria
• 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 likelihood of bacteria developing resistance?

  It is uncommon for bacteria to develop resistance
• 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
• How are antibiotics used in farming?

  To prevent illness and promote growth
• What is a consequence of using antibiotics in healthy animals?

  It creates a breeding ground for resistance
• What are scientists trying to do about antibiotic resistance?

  Develop new antibiotics for resistant strains
• Why is developing new antibiotics challenging?

  It is proving difficult and slow