CAIE A Level Biology 9700 · Infectious diseases
The table below shows the percentage of bacterial isolates from hospital patients that were resistant to penicillin over a five-year period.
| Year | Percentage of resistant isolates |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 18 |
| 2020 | 25 |
| 2021 | 34 |
| 2022 | 45 |
With reference to the data, describe how penicillin acts on bacteria and explain why antibiotics are ineffective against viruses. Also discuss the consequences of antibiotic resistance and the steps that can be taken to reduce its impact.
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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