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Take this quiz to see if you're an expert on bacteria, antibiotics, and their interactions with humans!

Myth Or Fact: How Much Do You Know About Antibiotic Resistance?

Antibiotics were accidentally discovered when scientist Alexander Fleming noticed a region around the mold Penicillium, in which bacteria were not growing. It turns out that the mold secreted an antibiotic, to which we know today to be penicillin.

Fact!

The discovery of antibiotics was an accident.

Most of the antibiotics discovered today are from bacteria that we have cultivated in the lab.

The majority of antibiotics are derived from microbes, while only a handful are synthesized from scratch.

Antibiotics can only be used to treat bacterial infections. Antibiotics target specific regions of a bacterium, regions which viruses do not have.

Myth!

Antibiotics are very useful in treating viral infections.

About less than 1% of all bacteria can be grown under conditions in the lab.

About 50% of all microbes can be cultured and grown in the lab.

Antibiotics can only kill bacteria that has a region in which it can inhibit its growth. That is why bacteria cannot be too different (in terms of cellular processes) in order for a single antibiotic to work.

A single antibiotic has the potential to kill a variety of diverse bacteria.

Around 80% of antibiotics are used within agriculture, with this large amount contributing to antibiotic resistance.

One of the major causes of antibiotic resistance is the use of pesticides in agriculture.

Since 2010, not a single new class of antibiotics has been discovered, as bacterial infections in the United States are for the most part treatable. New antibiotics have been discovered within specific classes, however.

Around five new antibiotic classes have been discovered within the last decade.  


Through horizontal gene transfer, bacteria can transfer their genes to another bacterium. This is a method in which antibiotic resistance genes can be transferred within a species.

Bacteria can transfer their genetic material to other bacteria.

Because antibiotics kill the bacteria that it targets, bacteria that are not resistant will have more resources and room to grow.

Administering antibiotics can leave more room for antibiotic-resistant bacteria to grow.

Some antibiotics target processes that are present in both bacterial and eukaryotic cells. As a result, some antibiotics are not safe to be used on humans.

Fact

There is a possibility that some antibiotics have the ability to harm humans.

Antibiotic resistance is not your forte, but that does not mean you should stop here! If you would like to know more, look up the consequences of antibiotic resistance to see how it can affect humans.

You're new to the concept of antibiotic resistance.

You have a pretty good idea of the problems that can arise with antibiotic resistance.

You're pretty knowledgeable about antibiotic resistance.

You seem to know a lot that is going on right now with the antibiotic crisis.

You're an expert!

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Myth Or Fact: How Much Do You Know About Antibiotic Resistance?

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