This natural selection is vastly accelerated by human misuse. In many parts of the world, antibiotics are available over-the-counter without a prescription, leading to improper self-medication for viral infections like the common cold or influenza, against which antibiotics are completely ineffective. Furthermore, patients frequently stop taking their prescribed medication as soon as their symptoms improve, leaving behind the most resilient bacteria to mutate and proliferate. Agricultural Amplification
Focus on scientific nouns and verbs indicating decrease (diminish, dwindle) or increase (proliferate, surge). 5. Potential Solutions and Future Outlook
The consequences of antibiotic resistance are far-reaching and devastating. Infections caused by resistant bacteria are more difficult to treat, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that antibiotic resistance is responsible for at least 700,000 deaths annually, with this number expected to rise to 10 million by 2050.
: Found in Paragraph B: "At its core, antibiotic resistance is a natural evolutionary mechanism." 8. genetic mutations
Which of these would you like?
Bacteria can also swap genetic material with other bacteria, speeding up the spread of resistance [1]. 2. The Drivers of the Threat: Why Now?
There are measures we can take to slow the inevitable resistance. Barbara Murray, M.D., of the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, says that "appropriate prescribing is important." Many patients demand antibiotics for simple viral infections. "Perhaps the physician could take time to explain that these drugs don't work for viruses," she says. "Appropriate prescribing is important. There has been a shift to using costlier, broader spectrum agents. This prescribing trend heightens the resistance problem because more diverse bacteria are being exposed to antibiotics," writes Killeen. The CDC recommends that patients take their entire course of prescribed antibiotics. In addition, drugs in development can be used for patients with multi-drug-resistant infections on an emergency compassionate use basis for people with AIDS or cancer, for example," Blum adds. "Drug companies are beginning to get interested again in developing new antibiotics." And hopefully that renewed interest continues.
: Often focuses on terms like "selective pressure" or "horizontal gene transfer" . Global Solutions
Antimicrobial resistance – a global epidemic - World Trade Organization This natural selection is vastly accelerated by human misuse
Pharmaceutical companies are making high profits from newly developed antibiotics.
This low-dose, sub-lethal exposure creates an ideal breeding ground for resistant strains of bacteria. These "superbugs" then enter the human food chain through contaminated meat products, direct contact with agricultural workers, or environmental runoff into local water supplies. Consequently, a localized agricultural practice can rapidly escalate into a global health hazard. Economic and Healthcare Ramifications
Claim : Antibiotics are sometimes used only to prevent infections. .
To help students preparing for the IELTS exam, here is a mock reading test based on the text above, complete with answer keys and explanations. Questions 1–5 Infections caused by resistant bacteria are more difficult
Antibiotic resistance is, at its core, an outcome of evolution by natural selection. Any population of organisms—bacteria included—naturally contains genetic variants with unusual traits. Among these variants are bacteria that possess the ability to withstand an antibiotic's attack. When a person takes an antibiotic, the drug kills the susceptible bacteria while leaving behind those that can resist it. These surviving bacteria then multiply rapidly, increasing their numbers a million-fold in a single day, eventually becoming the predominant microorganism.
Complete the summary below. Choose from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 7–10 on your answer sheet. The Evolutionary Mechanism of Resistance
The ability of bacteria to withstand the effects of an antibiotic.