WEBVTT 00:00:07.796 --> 00:00:11.249 Bacteria can cause various diseases, 00:00:11.250 --> 00:00:15.249 including bladder infections, tonsillitis, and pneumonia. 00:00:15.983 --> 00:00:19.110 Antibiotics can be used to 00:00:19.111 --> 00:00:21.840 treat these bacterial infections. 00:00:21.841 --> 00:00:25.479 These are drugs used to combat bacteria 00:00:25.480 --> 00:00:28.324 by killing them or by preventing them 00:00:28.325 --> 00:00:30.746 from multiplying in the body. 00:00:32.793 --> 00:00:36.120 Other disease-causing microorganisms like viruses 00:00:36.121 --> 00:00:38.830 can cause very similar symptoms. 00:00:39.220 --> 00:00:42.329 However, as antibiotics aren’t effective against viruses, 00:00:42.330 --> 00:00:45.674 it isn’t beneficial to prescribe them in such cases. 00:00:45.675 --> 00:00:47.541 In fact, it can be harmful. 00:00:47.627 --> 00:00:51.720 The inappropriate and frequent use of antibiotic drugs 00:00:51.721 --> 00:00:55.250 promotes the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. 00:00:55.507 --> 00:00:58.440 Antibiotics are generally very effective 00:00:58.440 --> 00:01:01.185 in treating bacterial infections. 00:01:01.505 --> 00:01:05.640 However, bacteria are highly adaptable survival specialists 00:01:05.641 --> 00:01:07.872 that multiply very quickly. 00:01:08.005 --> 00:01:12.026 As they do so, changes may occur in their genetic material. 00:01:12.034 --> 00:01:15.520 These genetic mutations are entirely random 00:01:15.521 --> 00:01:19.933 and may have benefits or drawbacks for the bacteria. 00:01:19.934 --> 00:01:22.280 For example, mutations may occur 00:01:22.360 --> 00:01:28.182 that make a bacterium insensitive or resistant to a certain antibiotic. 00:01:28.698 --> 00:01:32.259 As a result of the mutations, bacteria may, for instance, be able to 00:01:32.260 --> 00:01:34.000 - split the antibiotic 00:01:34.001 --> 00:01:36.049 and render it ineffective 00:01:36.050 --> 00:01:40.039 - prevent the antibiotic from entering the bacterial cell 00:01:40.492 --> 00:01:45.063 - quickly transport the antibiotic back out of the bacterial cell 00:01:45.570 --> 00:01:49.120 - change the antibiotic’s point of attack 00:01:49.320 --> 00:01:51.014 so that it is no longer effective 00:01:51.326 --> 00:01:54.720 - produce greater quantities of the cellular component 00:01:54.720 --> 00:01:56.760 targeted by the antibiotic 00:01:56.761 --> 00:01:59.040 so that the antibiotic concentration 00:01:59.120 --> 00:02:01.535 is no longer sufficient to suppress it. 00:02:01.590 --> 00:02:05.200 If a genetic mutation proves beneficial to the bacterium, 00:02:05.201 --> 00:02:08.600 it is passed on to subsequent generations. 00:02:08.601 --> 00:02:12.962 If a mutation produces resistance against an antibiotic, 00:02:12.963 --> 00:02:18.142 it will be passed on when the bacteria is exposed to that drug. 00:02:19.594 --> 00:02:25.656 Some bacteria not only pass on antibiotic resistance directly to the next generation, 00:02:25.657 --> 00:02:28.925 but can also transfer the necessary genetic information 00:02:28.933 --> 00:02:31.534 to other species of bacteria. 00:02:32.714 --> 00:02:36.080 The frequent and inappropriate use of antibiotics 00:02:36.080 --> 00:02:39.640 creates conditions that promote these developments. 00:02:39.920 --> 00:02:42.646 Treatment with antibiotics can increase 00:02:42.647 --> 00:02:46.576 the spread of bacteria that have already become resistant 00:02:46.577 --> 00:02:49.424 because these have a survival advantage. 00:02:50.674 --> 00:02:54.400 As a result, the illnesses they cause cannot be treated 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:59.080 as effectively, leading to an increased rate of fatalities. 00:02:59.200 --> 00:03:02.800 Antibiotic resistance is already widespread. 00:03:03.285 --> 00:03:06.960 To prevent the evolution of even more resistant germs, 00:03:06.961 --> 00:03:09.800 antibiotics should only be taken 00:03:09.801 --> 00:03:11.931 when medically necessary 00:03:11.932 --> 00:03:15.993 and when the illness is actually caused by bacteria. 00:03:16.235 --> 00:03:20.640 It is also important to strictly follow medical instructions 00:03:20.641 --> 00:03:23.031 when taking antibiotics. 00:03:23.570 --> 00:03:25.133 To recap: 00:03:25.258 --> 00:03:29.905 Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections. 00:03:29.906 --> 00:03:33.031 They are not effective in treating other illnesses. 00:03:33.258 --> 00:03:36.920 Mutations in the genetic material of bacteria 00:03:36.921 --> 00:03:40.750 can render certain antibiotics ineffective. 00:03:40.922 --> 00:03:44.103 This is known as antibiotic resistance. 00:03:44.408 --> 00:03:46.400 Antibiotic resistance 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:49.197 can be transferred between bacteria. 00:03:49.408 --> 00:03:53.002 The development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria 00:03:53.003 --> 00:03:55.360 and the further spread of resistance 00:03:55.361 --> 00:03:58.680 is promoted by frequent or inappropriate 00:03:58.680 --> 00:04:01.720 use of antibiotic drugs.