CAIE A Level Biology 9700 · Infectious diseases
A patient is prescribed penicillin for a bacterial throat infection. The patient also has a common cold caused by a virus and asks why the penicillin will not help the cold. Explain why penicillin is effective against bacteria but not against viruses. Furthermore, discuss the consequences of antibiotic resistance and the steps that can be taken to reduce its impact.
4 marks, so the mark scheme is looking for about 4 separate creditworthy points. Making the same point twice in different words earns it once.
Explain means: Give the reasons or the mechanism: why or how something happens. Link each point to the next with because, so or which means. A list of facts with no links usually loses the reasoning marks.
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