Antibiotic Resistance

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course the fully engaged students should be able to

- discuss the evolution of antiobitic resistant microbes as an example of natural selection
- discuss mistakes by both medical practioners and patients that led to this problem
- discuss how a broad exposure to diverse fields of biology may help future health science professionals.


Further Reading

Here is a link to an in-depth discussion of antibiotic resistance published by the World Health Organization http://www.who.int/infectious-disease-report/2000/other_versions/index-rpt2000_text.html


Past Exam Questions (answers at the bottom of the post)

In the 1950s, Japanese physicians began to notice that some hospital patients suffering from bacterial dysentery, which produces severe diarrhea, did not respond to antibiotics that had generally been effective in the past.

1. In order for the result described above to have occurred, which of the following must have been true in the population of dysentery-causing bacteria?
(a) there was variation in the susceptibility of the bacteria to antibiotics
(b) antibiotic resistance was heritable
(c) bacteria that were more resistant to antibiotics had higher survival rates than less resistant bacteria
(d) a, b, and c
(e) neither a, b, or c was true


2. What can be done in future to limit the problem of antibiotic resistance in disease-causing microorganisms?
(a) Doctors should only describe antibiotics when appropriate
(b) Doctors should prescribe larger doses of antibiotics
(c) patients should make sure to take all of the pills when antibiotics are prescribed
(d) a and c
(d) a, b, and c

Answers 1. d 2. d