You are here
๐ฌ Think about it
If germs get past our defences, we fall ill and need medicine. Antibiotics are like special tools made only for bacteria — they cannot fix a virus, just as a key for one lock will not open another. But using them carelessly causes a big problem. What is it? Let's find out.
What are antibiotics?
What can an antibiotic kill?
Antibiotics
They target bacterial cells
Works on bacteria
Kills the bacteria
Example:
Tuberculosis
Cholera
Typhoid
Useless on viruses
And on protozoa too
Example:
Cold
Cough
Flu
Malaria
- Antibiotics are medicines that kill bacteria causing a disease.
- They target parts of bacterial cells that differ from our cells.
- They do not work against viruses or protozoa.
๐ฌ Think like a scientist
Discovery of the first antibiotic, Penicillin
- Penicillin was discovered in 1928 by Alexander Fleming in London.
- He noticed a mould on a petri dish stopped bacteria from growing.
- The mould released a substance that killed the bacteria.
- This chance discovery gave us penicillin, the first antibiotic.
What is antibiotic resistance?
How do resistant bacteria spread?
Resistant bacteria
They reach the community
Through humans
Hospitals and homes
Example:
Dirty hospital surfaces
Healthcare workers
Patients going home
Through food products
Animals and crops
Example:
Animal food products
Manure in a crop field
How does antibiotic resistance develop?
Antibiotics are overused
Taken even when not needed
↓
A few bacteria survive
They develop resistance
↓
Resistant bacteria multiply
They grow and take over
↓
Resistance spreads
Passed to other bacteria
Infections become harder to treat
- It is when bacteria survive an antibiotic that once killed them.
- It is caused by the careless, indiscriminate use of antibiotics.
- It makes common infections harder and more dangerous to treat.
๐ฌ
Activity 3.7 — Let us infer
How do we infer the cause of resistance?
Study the infographic
How antibiotic-resistant bacteria develop and spread
↓
Ask how the resistance arose
Antibiotics taken when not required, or an incomplete dose
↓
Work out the precautions
Only when a doctor prescribes, in the correct dose, for the right duration
↓
Avoiding unnecessary use keeps antibiotics working for future generations
In this Activity, we will study how antibiotic resistance develops, and infer how to slow it down.
What to study
Study the infographic on antibiotic resistance. Think about how resistance develops in bacteria and what precautions can reduce it.
What we infer
To tackle antibiotic resistance, we must use antibiotics wisely — only when prescribed by a doctor, in the correct dose, and for the right duration. Avoiding unnecessary use keeps antibiotics effective for the future.
Antibiotics must be taken only when a doctor prescribes them, in the correct dose, for the full duration.
โ Summary
- Overuse causes resistance
- Use only with a prescription
- Correct dose and duration matter
How are diseases treated besides antibiotics?
What else treats a disease?
Treatment
Beyond antibiotics
Traditional medicine
Herbs, oils and minerals
Example:
Ayurveda
Siddha
Unani
Therapy for NCDs
Manages the condition
Example:
Medication
Lifestyle changes
Rehabilitation
- Traditional systems like Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani use herbs and oils.
- They help with some conditions but not all diseases or stages.
- Non-communicable diseases need medication, lifestyle change, and care.
Important Points
- Antibiotics kill bacteria but not viruses or protozoa.
- Overuse of antibiotics causes antibiotic resistance.
- Use antibiotics only when a doctor prescribes them.
โ
Test Yourself
-
What do antibiotics act against?
View Answer
Bacteria only. -
Do antibiotics work against viruses?
View Answer
No. -
Who discovered penicillin?
View Answer
Alexander Fleming, in 1928. -
What causes antibiotic resistance?
View Answer
Careless and unnecessary use of antibiotics. -
Name two traditional medicine systems of India.
View Answer
Ayurveda and Siddha (also Unani).
Important Definitions
- Antibiotic — A medicine that kills the bacteria causing a disease.
- Antibiotic resistance — When bacteria survive and multiply despite treatment with an antibiotic that once killed them.
๐ NCERT Question 6 — Saniya's claim about antibiotics
Saniya claims to her friend Vinita that "Antibiotics can cure any infection, so we don't need to worry about diseases." What question(s) can Vinita ask her to help Saniya understand that her statement is incorrect?
View Answer →
๐ NCERT Question 9 — No antibiotic for a viral infection
It is recommended that we should not take an antibiotic for a viral infection like a cold, a cough, or flu. Can you provide the possible reason for this recommendation?
View Answer →
