The Fight Against Superbacteria Webquest

The Fight Against Superbacteria Webquest by Kristen Sartele and Erica Simpson (Mount Carmel Academy; New Orleans, LA)

Charity Hospital officials report the second case this month of a staph bacteria that resists the antibiotic, Vancomycin. Staphylococcus aureus is the leading cause of infection in hospitals and can often be fatal. A spokesperson from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention stated that this is the eighth reported case of antibiotic resistance to Vancomycin this month in Louisiana.

"Vancomycin has always been our last resort," states a doctor from Charity Hospital "We are alarmed and baffled by the failure of our most powerful drug to combat this superbacteria." Scientists are frantically working to develop new antibiotics against this deadly microbe. Julie Johnson, a professor at Xavier School of Pharmacy, expresses her concern, " We can make a more potent medication but we are worried about its effects on the human body. We are determined to stay one step ahead of the staph bacteria, but they are catching up!"

Design an informative pamphlet for doctors to distribute to their patients about correct antibiotic use and the dangers of not using antibiotics properly. The pamphlet must include the following:

Lesson	Beginning	Intermediate	Advanced	Your Score
a&b, What the Heck is an Antibiotic?	Answers incomplete 0 points	Questions answered but missing or misleading information. 2 points	Questions answered completely with correct information. 4 points
a-c, Antibiotic Resistance	Answers incomplete 0 points	Questions answered but missing or misleading information. 2 points	Questions answered completely with correct information. 4 points
Doctors & Patients	The role of either patient &/or doctor is not explained. 0 points	The role of both patient & doctor is explained but is missing information or contains misleading information. 2 points	Role of both patient &doctor is explained thoroughly. 4 points
Patient Pamphlet: Background	Does not contain a description of the problem of antibiotic resistance. 0 points	Contains a description of the problem of antibiotic resistance that is incomplete or contains missing information. 2 points	Contains a complete and correct description of the problem of antibiotic resistance. 4 points
Patient Pamphlet: Rules for taking antibiotics	Does not contain three rules of taking antibiotics. 0 points	Contains three rules for taking antibiotics but they are redundant or misleading 2 points	Contains three correct rules for taking antibiotics 4 points
Patient Pamphlet: Importance of rules	Does not contain a description of the importance every rule. 0 points	Contains a description of the importance of each rule but is missing information or contains misleading information. 2 points	Contains a description of the importance of each rule that is correct. 4 points
Patient Pamphlet: Related Internet sites	No related internet sites are listed. 0 points	One related internet site is listed. 1 point	Two related internet sites are listed. 2 points
			Your total Score:

Conclusion: By visting various websites on antibiotic resistance and completing the above tasks, students should understand the causes of antibiotic resistance and the importance of correct antibiotic use.

The Fight Against Superbacteria by: Kristen Sartele and Erica Simpson (Mount Carmel Academy New Orleans, Louisiana)

Description of Activity: Students will read articles on antibiotic resistant bacteria and answer questions. These questions will give students a working knowledge of antibiotics and antibiotic-resitant bacteria. Using the knowledge gained from the articles, students will also construct an educational pamphlet that will communicate the correct use of antibiotics.

Background: This activity introduces students to the problem and causes of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria. Students learn the genetic mechanisms of acquiring antibiotic resistance and the role of natural selection in proliferating antibiotic resistant bacteria. Through the construction of an educational pamphlet, students learn and express ways in which the general public can help prevent the spread of resistant bacterial strains.

Instructions On How To Do Webquest: Students should be provided with a copy of the student questsheet and paper to complete a pamphlet. Students may work independently or in small groups at computers.

a. Antibiotics are natural or synthetic substances that inhibit growth or kill bacteria.

b. Antibiotics inhibit processes that are unique to bacteria and that are necessary for bacteria to live and reproduce.

a. When a population of bacteria are exposed to antibiotics, the antibiotic sensitive bacteria die off and the resistant bacteria multiply.

b. Bacteria can become resistant from a chance mutation, and/or an exchange of plasmids that contain resistant genes.

c. Resistant bacteria may (1)produce enzymes that destroy antibiotics, (2)expel antibiotics from bacterial cells, (3) prevent antibiotics from entering the cells or (4) alter the antibiotic's target.

Doctors often prescribe antibiotics when they are not needed. Patients do not always take antibiotics correctly.

a. Background - Answers may vary but should include a general description of the problem of antibiotic resistance.

b. Rules for taking antibiotics - Answers may vary but would most likely include three of the following: finish the bottle, don't take leftovers of old prescriptions, don't give friends leftover antibiotics, don't pressure your doctor into prescribing antibiotics, and don't skip doses. Students should also describe why each of the rules are important.

Extension and Follow-up Class Activities: Students can (1) design an experiment that tests the resistance of E. coli to common antibiotics, (2) genetic transfomation lab where an Ampicillin resistant gene is introduced to E. coli (See A.P. Biology Laboratory Manual), (3) produce a video to demonstrate the correct use of antibiotics and (4) write a newspaper article on the problem and causes of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

a. How do resistant bacteria become more common?
b. What are two ways that bacteria can become resistant?
c. What are three ways that resistant bacteria fight off antibiotics?