Drugs in Medicine (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award): Biology): Flashcards
Exam code: 0654 & 0973
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Drug
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Cards in this collection (8)
Drug
Any substance taken into the body that modifies or affects chemical reactions in the body.
Antibiotic
A drug that kills or stops the growth of bacteria inside the body, without harming the body's own cells.
Why can't antibiotics be used to treat viral infections?
Antibiotics only work on bacteria.
Viruses reproduce inside the body's own cells, so they cannot be targeted without harming the cells.
are drugs used to treat bacterial infections.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are not effective against such as those that cause colds and flu.
viruses
How does antibiotic resistance develop (Extended)?
Random mutations make some bacteria resistant to the antibiotic.
When the antibiotic is used, non-resistant bacteria are killed but resistant ones survive.
The resistant bacteria reproduce and pass on the resistance, so the resistant population grows.
How can the development of antibiotic resistance be reduced (Extended)?
Only use antibiotics when they are really needed (for example, not for viral infections), so that resistant bacteria are less likely to develop and spread.
Overusing antibiotics increases the development of antibiotic in bacteria.
resistance
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