Outline5 marksStandard
In a hospital, broad-spectrum antibiotics were frequently prescribed for patients with viral respiratory infections. Over a year, the incidence of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), increased significantly.
Outline the mechanism by which penicillin kills bacteria, why antibiotics are ineffective against viruses, and how the overuse of antibiotics leads to the development of antibiotic resistance. Also state one step that can be taken to reduce the impact of antibiotic resistance.