40. Explain how a bacteriostatic antibiotic is useful even if it does not result
ID: 101382 • Letter: 4
Question
40. Explain how a bacteriostatic antibiotic is useful even if it does not result in the death of the pathogen. 41. Give an example of when you would want to use a broad-spectrum antibiotic and when you would want to use a narrow-spectrum antibiotic. Give a disadvantage to using a broad-spectrum antibiotic. 42. Explain how organisms can develop resistance to chemical disinfectants. 43. Describe how avoiding the use of antibiotics for viral infections can prevent the spread of antibioticresistance.
Explanation / Answer
Answer 40:-
Bacteriostatic antibiotics act by halting the growth of bacteria. These antibiotics do not kill the bacteria but stops the bacterial reproduction. They act by interfering bacterial protein production and DNA/RNA replication.
The bacteriostatic agents are useful as they work along with the immune system. Prevention of growth of bacteria by bacteriostatic agent limits the population of bacteria. This helps the immune system fight infections. These antibiotics thus help boost the immunity against the bacteria by co-working with the immune system.
Answer 41:-
Broad spectrum antibiotics are effective against broad range of bacteria. These antibiotics usually act on both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria.
Examples of broad spectrum antibiotics are ampicillin, amoxicillin, tetracycline etc. These are used when the infection causing bacteria has not been identified. The infection may spread rapidly and can become fatal (as in meningitis) till the identification of bacteria is done. In such case use of broad spectrum antibiotic is necessary to control the infection.
Narrow spectrum antibiotics are effective against narrow range of bacteria. They specifically act on either Gram positive or Gram negative bacteria. These are usually used when the infection causing bacteria is known or identified.
Example of narrow spectrum antibiotic is vancomycin, which acts only against Gram positive bacteria. These are used when the infection is not spreading rapidly and fatal. These antibiotics being specific do not cause much harm to the useful bacteria in human body.
Answer 42:-
Organisms develop resistance to the chemical disinfectants by changing themselves in some way so as to reduce the effectiveness of the disinfectant. The organisms mutate which enables them to survive. This trait is then passed on to their offspring. Thus the resistant generation is formed. Some bacteria show natural selection. The surviving few bacteria live and reproduce to form the tougher generation.
Answer 43:-
Antibiotics are active only against bacteria. They do not fight infections caused by viruses. Overuse of antibiotic leads to development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Also the gut bacteria, useful for digestion are harmed by antibiotics.
Since antibiotics do not act on the viruses, their use should be avoided in viral infections.
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