When antibiotics stop working
Careless use of antibiotics lets bacteria survive.
Headlines about antibiotics
Antibiotics have saved millions of lives. But news headlines now say that they are working less well than before.
What might happen to bacteria that an antibiotic once killed?
What this lesson covers
The idea
Antibiotic resistance is when bacteria earlier killed by an antibiotic survive and multiply despite treatment with it; indiscriminate antibiotic use has led to this decline in their effectiveness.
Headlines about antibiotics
Antibiotics have saved millions of lives. But news headlines now say that they are working less well than before.
What might happen to bacteria that an antibiotic once killed?
- They may survive and multiply despite the treatment
- They always die
- They turn into viruses
Early days and today
Give the same antibiotic to the same bacteria in two eras. Then wait.
Antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance is when bacteria earlier killed by an antibiotic survive and multiply despite treatment with it. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics has led to a decline in their effectiveness.
Use antibiotics wisely: only when a doctor prescribes them, in the correct dose, and for the right duration. This helps keep antibiotics effective for future generations.
- Early days | After careless use
- The antibiotic kills the bacteria | The bacteria survive and multiply despite treatment
Notes
Antibiotic resistance: bacteria earlier killed by an antibiotic survive and multiply despite treatment. Indiscriminate use has reduced how well antibiotics work.
Check yourself
What is antibiotic resistance?
What has led to the decline in the effectiveness of antibiotics?
How should we use antibiotics?
- Bacteria once killed by an antibiotic survive and multiply despite treatment — correct. Yes. The antibiotic no longer works well on them.
- Antibiotics killing more bacteria than before. That is the opposite of resistance.
- Viruses being killed by antibiotics. Antibiotics do not work against viruses. Resistance is about bacteria.
- Their indiscriminate use — correct. Yes. Using them without need helped this problem grow.
- Using them only when a doctor prescribes them. That is the wise way to use them.
- Washing hands with soap. Washing hands removes pathogens. It has nothing to do with resistance.
- Only when prescribed by a doctor, in the correct dose and for the right duration — correct. Yes. This is wise use.
- Whenever we feel a little unwell. That is unnecessary use. It helps resistant bacteria rise.
- For a cold, to save a visit to the doctor. A cold is caused by a virus. Antibiotics do not work on viruses, and unnecessary use makes resistance worse.