Glencoe Health

Introduction:
In this lesson, you learned about the different types of pathogens responsible for diseases, such as viruses and bacteria. Infections causes by bacteria can be treated with antibiotics prescribed by a doctor. However, many disease-causing bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to existing antibiotics. This resistance makes them more and more difficult to treat. Learn more about this dangerous public health problem at the following Web site.

Links to Explore:
About Antibiotic Resistance
http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/community/anitbiotic-resistance.htm

Directions:

• Click on the link and read the article.
• Then answer the following questions.

1			How does antibiotic use promote the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria?
2			What are the two ways that bacteria can acquire antibiotic resistance?
3			Why is it inappropriate to take an antibiotic when you have a viral infection?
4			Suppose you have a bacterial infection and the doctor prescribes a ten-day course of antibiotics. By day seven you feel no symptoms of your illness. Should you stop taking the antibiotics? Why or why not?
5			If you have a bacterial infection, is it safe to take leftover antibiotics from an earlier illness or to use an antibiotic prescribed for someone else? Why or why not?
6			If a doctor determines that your illness is not caused by bacteria, what should you do to help control antibiotic resistance?