Test your understanding III

Below, you'll find study questions relevant to what has been covered this far in the course. Use them to anchor and expand the knowledge you have acquired. An answer key is provided at the bottom of the page.

Study questions

Question 1

For which type of bacteria is the need for new antibiotics especially urgent? Why?

Question 2

Antibiotics are often categorized into different classes. What is meant by an antibiotic class?

Question 3

By using the knowledge you have acquired, please describe why we need to continuously develop new antibiotics. Please use the terms “evolution” and “selection” in your explanation.

Question 4

When possible, the use of narrow-spectrum antibiotics is encouraged to minimize selection of resistance in the normal flora and in environmental bacteria. Howcome the spectrum of several of the alternative treatments listed in the section about alternatives to antibiotics then are described as “too narrow”? What is the drawback with such treatments?

Question 5

What are bacteriophages and how could they, in theory, be used to limit bacterial growth?

Question 6

Please explain how universal vaccination campaigns (targeting both viral and bacterial diseases) could affect the spread of antibiotic resistance globally.

Question 7

Describe how new business models could help to stimulate antibiotic innovation.

Question 8

What is meant by de-linkage and why is it relevant for antibiotic innovation?

Question 9

In the context of antibiotic innovation, what is a public-private partnership?

Question 10

Please describe what is meant by the access/excess dilemma.