What Are Antibiotics?

Antibiotics are medicines that kill bacteria or stop them from growing.
They are not effective against viruses.

💡 Key Concept: Antibiotics revolutionised medicine – but their overuse and misuse has led to resistant strains of bacteria.

What Is Antibiotic Resistance?

Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria mutate, and those mutations make them resistant to antibiotics.

✔ The resistant bacteria survive and reproduce
✔ This leads to a strain that antibiotics can’t kill
✔ The new strain spreads quickly, especially in healthcare settings

👉 Example: MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a well-known resistant “superbug”

How Does Resistance Develop?

1️⃣ A mutation occurs in a bacterium’s DNA
2️⃣ Antibiotic kills non-resistant bacteria
3️⃣ Resistant bacteria survive and reproduce
4️⃣ The population of resistant bacteria increases

💡 This is an example of natural selection in action!

Causes of Antibiotic Resistance

Problems with Antibiotic Resistance

❌ Infections become harder to treat
❌ Longer illnesses and hospital stays
❌ Higher risk of complications or death
❌ Increases the need for stronger, more expensive drugs
❌ Few new antibiotics are being developed

Preventing Antibiotic Resistance

✔ Only use antibiotics when necessary
✔ Finish the full course, even if you feel better
✔ Don’t share or save leftover antibiotics
✔ Use good hygiene to prevent infections
✔ Educate the public and professionals about proper use
✔ Restrict use in farming