Describe5 marksStandard
The table shows the percentage of a bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus) isolated from patients that were resistant to penicillin over a 70-year period.
| Year | Percentage of isolates resistant to penicillin |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 5 |
| 1970 | 20 |
| 1990 | 50 |
| 2010 | 80 |
| 2020 | 95 |
Describe how penicillin acts on bacteria, why antibiotics are not effective against viruses, and the consequences of antibiotic resistance. Also describe one step that can be taken to reduce the impact of antibiotic resistance.