• Question: what is the antibiotics diease

    Asked by bobb to Andrew, Daniel, Hayley, Natalia, Peta on 14 Nov 2011. This question was also asked by dafydddoomsboy.
    • Photo: Peta Foster

      Peta Foster answered on 14 Nov 2011:

      Hi there!

      Antibiotics are also known as antibacterials. There are lots of different bacteria out there, some of which is good for us and some of which is harmful to us and causes disease.

      If you get a bacterial infection you’re own body produces white blood cells to fight it, however if it gets too much your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to help you body fight off the unwanted intruders. It is very important to use the medication exactly how the doctor prescribes since bacteria are pretty good at adapting if we don’t hit them properly on the first go. 🙂

      I hope this helps,
      Peta

    • Photo: Andrew Cairns

      Andrew Cairns answered on 14 Nov 2011:

      Do you mean antibiotic resistance? If not let us know!

      To my understanding it is when bacteria in your body, if they are around the antibiotic for a while, but not long enough to kill it, then they can mutate so they can survive no matter how many antibiotics you take. Obviously this is very bad, as these new more powerful bacteria can get passed to those around you.

      We have a constant challenge to develop new, more powerful antibiotics to kill new, stronger bacteria. What happens when we can’t do that anymore? Well, that is scary!

    • Photo: Daniel Scully

      Daniel Scully answered on 14 Nov 2011:

      This is well out of my area of expertise, but it looks like you have some good answers already.

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