B6 Infectious Diseases (1)

1. Microorganism enters body

2. Reproduces rapidly, producing more microorganisms

3. Microorganisms produce toxins (poisonous substances) damaging cells and tissues

4. Toxins cause symptoms of infection (pain, stomach cramps), immune system's reaction to infection also causes symptoms (fever)

Time between exposure to microorganism and development of symptoms is the incubation period.

Chemicals to destroy bacteria or stop them growing

Antiseptics used outside body to clean wounds and surfaces, prevent infection rather than treating it

Many household products contain antiseptics (bathroom cleaners), also used in hospitals and surgeries to prevent infections like MRSA

Antibiotics are drugs used inside body usually taken as pill or injection, treat already infected, can only kill bacteria, does not affect virus

Random mutations in bacteria DNA leads to changes in bacteria's characteristics, less affected by antibiotics

Bacteria with these genes better at surviving and reproducing in a host being treat to get rid of infection

Leads to gene for antibiotic resistance passed on to offspring - natural selection

Gene spreads and bcomes common in population of bacteria over time

Bacteria resistant to antibiotics (MRSA) makes infections harder to treat

More antibiotics used, bigger the problem of antibiotic-resistance

Only prescribe when necesary - antibiotics do not cause resistance, but create situation where naturally resistant bacteria have an advantage and so increase, if antibiotics won't do you any good, it's pointless to take them, and could harm others.

Take all antibiotics prescribed - lots of people stop taking antibiotics as soon as they feel better but can lead to risk of antibiotic resistant bacteria emerging, must complete dose.