a student argued that antibiotics could cause mutations because after treatment with an antibiotic some bacteria may still be alive. Explain whether or not this student is correct
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Imagine you are a doctor at a family medical practice. One of your patients presented with a minor case of strep throat a few weeks ago. They have returned saying they feel better, but they admit they never finished the course of antibiotics you prescribed. What of the following should you NOT say to explain to them why it is important to finish their antibiotics? "Low-grade exposure, instead of full exposure, will cause the bacteria to mutate and gain resistance, making you more sick than before." "For bacterial strains regularly in circulation in human populations, low grade exposure can accelerate resistance via natural selection." "The antibiotic dosage is calculated in order to kill all the bacteria as best we can, and if you don't take all of it, some bacteria with low-level resistance will remain and reproduce." "Even if you feel better, you may still harbour bacteria that have not yet been killed, and could potentially transmit these to other people." "You may feel better, but it is unlikely all the bacteria in your body are completely gone given how we calculated the dosage, and the infection could come back worse than before."
Adi S.
Many scientists have criticized the use of low-dosage antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents to enhance the growth of cattle and chickens. Why would they be against this practice? Why would producers be reluctant to stop it? What suggestions might an antimicrobial stewardship program give to decrease high rates of antimicrobial prescriptions? A student argued that "spontaneous mutation" meant that an antimicrobial could cause mutations. Is the student correct? Why or why not?
Madhur L.
In the antibiotic resistance example of evolution by natural selection (see Ch 7 lecture slide 10), what would happen if a patient were treated with the antibiotic penicillin and there weren't any bacteria present with antibiotic resistance genes? Would there be evolution by natural selection for penicillin-resistance in this bacteria population? Explain why or why not.
Maitreya E.
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