CAIE A Level Biology 9700 · Infectious diseases
A patient visits a clinic with symptoms of influenza, a viral infection. Despite this, the doctor prescribes a course of penicillin.
Describe how penicillin acts on bacteria, why antibiotics such as penicillin have no effect on viruses, and discuss the consequences of this type of antibiotic misuse, including the steps that can be taken to reduce the impact of antibiotic resistance.
5 marks, so the mark scheme is looking for about 5 separate creditworthy points. Making the same point twice in different words earns it once.
Describe means: Say what happens or what something is like, in order and with detail. You are not being asked why. If there is data, quote it: name the trend, then give figures with units at the points where it changes.
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