Question

Evolutionary theory predicts that bacterial resistance to antibiotics will evolve. Given time and sufficient heritable variability, living organisms (including bacteria) will evolve when a selective pressure (like an antibiotic) is introduced. But evolutionary theory also gives doctors and patients some specific strategies for delaying even more widespread evolution of antibiotic resistance. For the following strategies, give a justification based on your knowledge of bacteria and evolution, why this strategy would reduce or slow the transmission of antibiotic resistance.

a. Don't use antibiotics to treat viral infections

b. When treating a bacterial infection with antibiotics, take all your pills.

Answer 1

a. it is right to say not to use antibiotics when you do not have the bacterial infection and inspite you are suffering from viral fever. In such case antibiotics will humiliate the normal flora and may enhance their resistance and at same time during viral fever body is immuno compromised and so antibiotics are provided to neutralised any normal flora to grow as pathogen.

b. Off course when we have bacterial infection we should take all our pills prescribed by doctor to finish the pathogen till its root. other wise the left over organism might grow with resistant.