Clostridium difficile is a bacterial species that causes disease in humans. Antibiotic-resistant strains of C. difficile have become a common cause of infection acquired when in hospital. Explain how the use of antibiotics has led to antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria becoming a common cause of infection acquired when in hospital.

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Clostridium difficile is a bacterial species that causes disease in humans - AQA - A-Level Biology - Question 2 - 2022 - Paper 1

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Clostridium difficile is a bacterial species that causes disease in humans. Antibiotic-resistant strains of C. difficile have become a common cause of infection acq... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:Clostridium difficile is a bacterial species that causes disease in humans - AQA - A-Level Biology - Question 2 - 2022 - Paper 1

Step 1

Explain how the use of antibiotics has led to antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria becoming a common cause of infection acquired when in hospital.

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The use of antibiotics creates a selection pressure on bacterial populations, meaning that not all bacteria survive the treatment.
Some bacteria have alleles that grant them resistance to the antibiotics. As antibiotics are used, non-resistant bacteria are killed off, allowing resistant bacteria to survive and reproduce.
This results in a higher frequency of antibiotic-resistant strains within the bacterial population found in hospitals, contributing to the common infections seen.

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