- Using stimulus material such as video clips, discuss with pupils how infections are treated. Identify prevention of transmission and the action of drugs to kill or suppress micro-organisms, or to relieve symptoms.
- Remind pupils of how to work safely with micro-organisms and help them to investigate the effect of common household anti-microbial compounds,
eg toothpaste, anti-perspirant, antiseptics, disinfectants, sterilising solutions, on the growth of bacteria on a nutrient agar plate. Establish that these are not antibiotics but contain agents that can kill bacteria.
- Ask pupils about medicines they cannot buy from the chemist but have to obtain on prescription, and ask them why this is so. Use their answers to explain that antibiotics kill particular bacteria and are not effective against all types of bacteria,
eg neomycin sulphate against the bacteria causing middle-ear infection.
- Challenge pupils to explain why:
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people are not prescribed antibiotics when they have a cold or chickenpox
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some bacteria are resistant to antibiotics
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people are always told to complete the course of an antibiotic
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many doctors wish to limit the prescription of antibiotics
- Ask pupils to find out about the initial observation of antibiotic activity by Fleming and the further development by Florey and Chain. Provide them with data about the incidence of diseases that are treatable by antibiotics over the last century and help them to explain trends and patterns.
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- show that they can work with micro-organisms safely
- describe the effect of household anti-microbial substances on bacterial growth
- state that antibiotics are effective against bacteria but ineffective against viral infections
- show in their writing that scientific advance may come from creative thought and interpretation of evidence
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