CAIE A Level Biology 9700 · Infectious diseases
A patient diagnosed with a bacterial infection (Streptococcus pharyngitis) is prescribed penicillin. The patient also has a viral common cold. Explain why penicillin is effective against the bacterium but not the virus, and 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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