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Antibiotics are drugs widely used in most industrialised societies - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 25 - 2001 - Paper 1
Question 25
Antibiotics are drugs widely used in most industrialised societies. They are used to treat bacterial infections, are added to animal feed, and have been included in ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Antibiotics are drugs widely used in most industrialised societies - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 25 - 2001 - Paper 1
Step 1
Possibility of controlling the spread of the disease
Answer
One possible effect of widespread antibiotic use is the control of bacterial infections. By effectively treating infections, antibiotics can limit the transmission of diseases to healthy individuals. This leads to a decrease in the prevalence of infections and ultimately contributes to overall public health improvement.
Step 2
Possibility of multi-resistant bacteria being developed
Answer
Another significant effect is the potential development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. As antibiotics are used extensively, some bacteria may evolve to withstand these drugs. This could result in the rise of multi-resistant strains, making infections harder to treat. Such bacteria can spread rapidly, leading to outbreaks and complicating future disease management efforts.