A patient has finished his treatment for a bacterial infection with an antibiotic and feels better. However, four days later the same bacterial infection returns. The doctor prescribes the same course of antibiotics, but this time these antibiotics do not cure the patient. What would be the most likely reason for this?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The scenario described is an example of antibiotic resistance. The first course of antibiotics killed most of the bacteria, but some individual bacteria with genetic resistance to the drug survived and multiplied. These resistant bacteria then caused the infection to return and were not affected by the second course of antibiotics. Option A is incorrect because the patient did receive treatment. Option B is incorrect because four days is not enough time for bacterial evolution to occur. Option D is incorrect because if the antibiotic was ineffective due to metabolism, the patient would not have felt better after the first course of antibiotics.

A Patient Has Finished His Treatment for a Bacterial Infection