RESISTANT BACTERIA

why can bacteria evolve rapidly

they reproduce at a fast rate

How does antibiotic resistance happen?

mutations of bacterial pathogens produce new strains

some strains might be antibiotic resistant so are not killed

they survive and reproduce so population of resistance strain rises

the resistant strain will then spread because people are not immune it and there is no effective treatment

what is resistant to antibiotics

MRSA

how to reduce rate of development of antibiotic resistant strains

doctors should not prescribe antibiotics inappropriately, such as treating non-serious or viral infections

patients should complete their course of antibiotics so all bacteria are killed and none survive to mutate and form resistant strains

the agricultural use of antibiotics should be restricted.

Cons of developing new antibiotics to treat antibiotic resistant strains(3):

costly and slow. It is unlikely to keep up with the emergence of new resistant strains.