A doctor is treating a patient for an apparent bacterial infection. She prescribes antibiotics that target either the peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls or the bacterial translational machinery. To her surprise, this treatment does not work. Why might this treatment be ineffective?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The most likely reason for the antibiotic treatment to be ineffective is that the bacterium has developed resistance to the antibiotics. This is a common problem due to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, which can lead to the evolution of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Options B and C are unlikely because chitin and cellulose are not commonly found in bacterial cell walls.

A Doctor Is Treating a Patient for an Apparent Bacterial