Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life (MindTap Course List)
Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life (MindTap Course List)
14th Edition
ISBN: 9781305073951
Author: Cecie Starr, Ralph Taggart, Christine Evers, Lisa Starr
Publisher: Cengage Learning
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Chapter 20, Problem 1CT

If a cut or scrape becomes infected, Staphylococcus aureus is probably the culprit (right). These bacteria often live on the skin and they can cause a problem if they get into a wound. Most “staph” infections can be cured with the antibiotic methicillin. Unfortunately, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is on the rise. Previously, antibiotic-resistant staph infections occurred mainly in hospitals and nursing homes. Now they are breaking out in schools and health clubs. The bacteria are transmitted by contact with an infected person or something that person has touched, as by sharing towels and razors. The gene conferring methicillin resistance is on a plasmid. Explain why a gene that is on a plasmid can spread more quickly than one on the bacterial chromosome.

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Students have asked these similar questions
Which of the following type of bacteria commonly causes hospital acquired infections via the fecal oral route and can live up to 5 months on clothes, surfaces, or devices of health care workers?   Question 10 options:   Staphylococcus aureus   Streptococcus pyogenes   Clostridium difficile    Salmonella and Shigella   None of these
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Identifying an unknown bacterium is an essential step in the diagnosis and treatment process. Since not every antibiotic is effective against every type of bacteria, knowing what caused a particular infection allows us to make correct prescriptions so patients can recover more quickly. Knowing the cause of an infection also prevents antibiotic resistance as well, since incorrect prescriptions allow bacteria to be unnecessarily be exposed to antibiotics, increasing the chances of developing resistance.
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