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Title: Investigating The Antibiotic Resistance Problem
Participants:
Jeanette Causey
Lisa Harrah
Santha Bundy-Farah
Karen Townsend
Objectives:
After completing this program, students will be able to:
- explain how antibiotic treatment results in populations of bacteria that are largely resistant to the antibiotic
- describe inappropriate and/or questionable uses of antibiotics
Prerequisite Knowledge:
- Bacteria – basic structure and function
- Familiarity with bacterial growth
- The theory of evolution through natural selection
- The role that microbes play in biodiversity
- The Scientific Process
Rationale:
Students will be engaged in an inquiry-based program about the antibiotic resistance of bacteria. Our program will utilize the key components of the 5 E Model: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate and Evaluate.
First, the students will be in engaged in an inquiry activity to generate curiosity about antibiotic resistance. Second, they will explore the effect of antibiotics on bacteria through a closed inquiry
investigation. Next, the students will complete a cooperative exercise to explain the causes of antibiotic resistance. In order to elaborate, the students will complete a case study about
tuberculosis to apply and extend what they have learned to evolution and biodiversity. Finally, the students will be evaluated by creating a product that demonstrates their ability to apply their recently
acquired concepts and skills.
Background:
Biological diversity in the microbial world is not the first thought that comes to mind when biodiversity comes up in the general public. The general public tends to think bigger. They think of tropical
ecosystems or maybe elephants. Perhaps they would consider an ecosystem in Yellowstone Park focusing on wolves. However, the biological diversity of microbes will shortly be on everyone’s
mind. Evolution through natural selection is producing a group of organisms that may not be as charismatic as a tiger, but will surely end up being much more frightening. A diverse and
frightening group of organisms resistant to traditional antibiotics are evolving at an alarming rate.
Antibiotic resistance is now a worldwide problem. There are a number of reasons for this rapid mutation rate of bacteria into antibiotic strains. Humans consume 235 million doses of antibiotics
annually. It is estimated that 20% to 50% of that use is inappropriate. One survey of physicians concluded that more than 80 percent of the responding physicians admitted to having written antibiotic
prescriptions against their better judgment. In addition to this problem, people often fail to follow the directions that come with these prescriptions – failing to finish the full course of
antibiotic treatment. Improper dosing will encourage the growth of resistant strains. Finally in many third world countries, it is possible to buy antibiotics over-the-counter. This
leads to widespread abuse of antibiotics.
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