Flashcards · 0610 · Topic 15

Drugs flashcards

6 cards on Topic 15. Pick a subtopic or study them all.

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Drug: Any substance taken into the body that modifies or affects chemical reactions in the body.
What are antibiotics used for?: To treat bacterial infections. Antibiotics kill bacteria but do not affect viruses.
Why does an antibiotic not cure flu?: Flu is caused by a virus. Viruses are not cells, so antibiotics have nothing to act on.
Effect of antibiotic resistance: Some bacteria are resistant to antibiotics, which reduces the effectiveness of antibiotics: an infection may not be cured and another antibiotic may be needed.
Why should antibiotics be used only when essential?Extended: Each use selects resistant bacteria. Using antibiotics only when essential gives fewer chances for selection, so resistant strains such as MRSA are less likely to develop and spread.
MRSAExtended: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a strain of a common bacterium that is resistant to many antibiotics.