Chapter 16, Problem 14STP

Summary Introduction

To explain:

How the treatment of certain bacterial infection with a combination of antibiotics affect drug resistance.

Introduction:

Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses are highly pathogenic to animals including humans. Pathogen such as bacteria causes a wide range of infection in Humans such as cholera, TB, food poisoning, etc. But fortunately, we have antibiotics to treat these bacterial infections. Antibiotics are chemical compounds basically extracted from Fungus molds such as Penicillium etc. they mainly act on the bacterial cell wall, make them porous and therefore restrict the growth of bacteria and kills it.

Explanation of Solution

If the bacterial infection is severe, usually a combination of antibiotics is given to the patient this is because bacteria can develop the drug resistance and therefore, the combination of antibiotics is preferred to treat bacterial infection. Due to a shorter life span, bacteria evolve way faster than any other organism. Due to this, bacterium develops resistance against the antibiotics which it has encountered previously. Therefore, to treat the severe bacterial infection which has developed the drug resistance for any specific antibiotics, a combination of antibiotics is prescribed. A doctor advises the patient to alter the combination of antibiotics after 10-15 days which helps in making bacteria susceptible to new antibiotics which helps in treating bacterial infection.

Conclusion

Any bacteria can develop the drug resistance against any antibiotics and therefore these bacterial infections are hard to treat. Hence, we should not take antibiotics without any prescription as this can helps the bacteria to become drug resistant in the future.