Objectives:
1. To investigate the effect of different antibiotics on bacteria
2. To develop problem solving and experimental skills, for example, information is accurately processed and presented, experimental procedures are planned, designed and evaluated properly, producing valid results, recording results, and valid conclusion is drawn.
3. To develop the aseptic techniques for preparing agar plates and bacterial culture.
Problem statement
Do antibiotics have the same effect on killing different types of bacteria?
Abstract:
The main objective of this experiment is to investigate the effect of different types of antibiotics on bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. Some of the main methods used in this experiment includes: the using of aseptic techniques for the preparation of agar plates. Paper discs containing different types of antibiotics then placed on the hardened agar plates. The inhibition zones of the bacteria on agar plates then is observed after 24 hours to determine the effectiveness of different types of antibiotics. The main result of this experiment is that the paper dics soaked with tetracycline has the greatest zone of inhibition in both Bacillus subtilis and E. Coli agar plates. Therefore, from this experiment, we can conclude that Tetracycline is the most effective antibiotics for Bacillus subtilis and E. Coli.
Introduction:
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are among the frequently prescribed medicine for treating bacterial infection. Finishing antibiotics is important to prevent remaining bacteria from developing resistance to the antibiotics. However, antibiotics are useless to treat diseases causing by viruses such as colds, flu, coughs, and bronchitis. (emedicinehealth, 2010). So...
... middle of paper ...
...om: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/antibiotics/article_em.htm Accessed on 6th February 2010
Fullick, A. 2010. Edexcel A2 Biology. 264p. United Kingdom: Pearson Education Limited
ScienceCompany. 2010. Bacteria Growing Experiments in Petri Dishes. Available from: http://secure.sciencecompany.com/-W54C659.aspx Accessed on 6th February 2010
Wikipedia. 2010. Aseptic technique. Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aseptic_technique Accessed on 6th February 2010
Wikipedia. 2010. Bacillus subtilis. Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacillus_subtilis Accessed from 6th February 2010
Wikipedia. 2010. Escherichia coli. Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escherichia_coli Accessed on 6th February 2010
Wikipedia. 2010. Micropipette. Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micropipette Accessed on 6th February 2010
The first day an unknown sample was assigned to each group of students. The first test applied was a gram stain to test for gram positive or gram-negative bacteria. The morphology of the two types of bacteria was viewed under the microscope and recorded. Then the sample was put on agar plates using the quadrant streak method for isolation. There were three agar plates; one was incubated at room temperature, the second at 30 degrees Celsius, and the third at 37 degrees Celsius. By placing each plate at a different temperature optimal growth temperature can be predicted for both species of bacteria.
In the last decade, the number of prescriptions for antibiotics has increases. Even though, antibiotics are helpful, an excess amount of antibiotics can be dangerous. Quite often antibiotics are wrongly prescribed to cure viruses when they are meant to target bacteria. Antibiotics are a type of medicine that is prone to kill microorganisms, or bacteria. By examining the PBS documentary Hunting the Nightmare Bacteria and the article “U.S. government taps GlaxoSmithKline for New Antibiotics” by Ben Hirschler as well as a few other articles can help depict the problem that is of doctors prescribing antibiotics wrongly or excessively, which can led to becoming harmful to the body.
Resistance arises from mutations that are not under the control of humans, but the evolution of bacteria has been sped along by the overexposure of antibiotics to both people and animals. The number of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria in an area is closely related to the frequency that antibiotics that are prescribed (Todar, 2012). Patients often unnecessarily demand antibiotics to treat common colds or simple illnesses that are not caused by bacteria. Instead, these infections are caused by viruses which, unlike bacteria, are unaffected by antibiotics. Incorrect diagnosis can also lead patients to using unnecessary antibiotics, which can sometimes be even more dangerous than otherwise left untreated. Besides the fact that antibiotics kill off beneficial bacteria in the intestines, misuse of antibiotics provides an opportunity ...
According to USA Today, U.S. doctors are prescribing enough antibiotics to give to 4 out of 5 Americans every year, an alarming pace that suggests they are being excruciatingly overused. In fact, Dr. Aunna Pourang from MD states, “to give you an idea of how high the pressure is to prescribe antibiotics, I didn’t get a job once because during the interview I told the lead physician that I only prescribe antibiotic prescriptions when they are warranted.” The development and widespread obsession of antibiotics, or drugs that kill bacteria and thereby reduce infection, has helped billions of people live longer, healthier lives. Unfortunately, the more we rely on and abuse antibiotics, the more bacteria develop resistance to them, which makes treating infections that much more challenging and leads to the growth of drug-resistant strains of bacteria. Research from the Center of Disease Control found that two million people in the United States become infected with antibiotic resistant bacteria, while 23,000 people die from such infections each year. Americans often aren’t informed on the power of the human body and rush to assumptions when perfection isn’t present. In a nutshell, the obsession of antibiotics is quite deadly and needs to be addressed before it’s too
Going into details of the article, I realized that the necessary information needed to evaluate the experimental procedures were not included. However, when conducting an experiment, the independent and dependent variable are to be studied before giving a final conclusion.
Explanation would include that antibiotics are only appropriate in bacterial infections and that viral illnesses do not respond to antibiotic treatment. Viral illnesses include runny nose, colds, bronchitis, flu, sore throats, and fluid in the middle ear. Bacterial illnesses include whooping cough, strep throat, and urinary tract infections (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2014c). Explain that antibiotic overuse, which is estimated that 50% of antibiotics prescribed are not necessary, leads to development of drug-resistant germs and that antibiotics are important in combating life-threatening bacterial infections. By abusing antibiotics for ineffective viral treatments, it increases the likelihood for an individual to become infected with an antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection in the future (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2014a). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov have wonderful handouts that can be given to patients and their families to better understand the implications and proper use of antibiotics and the consequences of abuse.
Compounding all of these solutions, the pharmaceutical industry needs to conduct extensive research on developing new antibiotics for various pathogenic bacteria by studying the bacterial structure. This will help scientists to formulate ways of counteracting the functions of the various constituents of bacteria.
Throughout history disease has run rampant taking many lives with every passing day. Finding a cure or even just a tool in the battle has been the main focus of scientist throughout time. This focus is what brought us the discovery of antibiotics. Over the years antibiotics have been misused by patients, over prescribed by physicians and have led to resistant strains of bacteria.
Bacteria can be prevented from growing and/or living with the use of antibiotics. Antibiotics combat bacteria several ways by preventing the cell wall from developing properly, protein synthesis hindrance, interferes with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) production by impeding cell division, interfering with outer-membrane and plasma function, killing the cell (Aziz, 2013).
In order for an experiment to be considered a true experimental design, the design must fit specific criteria. The researcher must have a hypothesis for a cause and effect relationship between variables, the treatment group, the control group, random selection for the treatment group, and random assignment for the control group. In a simple experiment, the researcher forms two groups that are similar or equivalent, through probability, to each other in every way possible appropriate to the concept of experiment. The treatment group receives the procedure for the experiment and the control group does not. Therefore, the only difference between the groups will be that one group receives the treatment for the experiment and one group does note. After the experiment is conducted the researcher analysis the results in both groups.
What if there were no treatment for strep throat? Or pneumonia? Or sinus infections? It is hard to imagine life without medicine for these illnesses. But what if the antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections such as strep throat and pneumonia stopped working? What if the bacteria were stronger than the antibiotics? The threat of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections is an increasing concern for healthcare providers, and it is important to reduce the misuse and overuse of antibiotics to maintain control of bacterial diseases.
Leboffe, M. J., & Pierce, B. E. (2010). Microbiology: Laboratory Theory and Application, Third Edition 3rd Edition (3rd Ed.). Morton Publishing
resolve problems. With the scientific method you have four steps to follow which include defining the
Medical science and pharmaceutical researchers need to vigorously investigate the many factors contributing to the decline in antibiotic efficacy which will then empower them to research and develop a new generation of antibiotic therapies. Aligned with this is the responsibility of each individual to manage their health and expectations with regard to treatment. For example, individuals could adopt better ways of maintaining their immune systems by means of a healthy diet and exercise.