Why Does Evolution Matter Now???
When people go to the doctor's office, they expect to be cured. They don't like to be told, "Go home,
drink lots of fluids and rest, and you will get better." They want a more proactive approach. Often,
doctors prescribe antibiotics just to make their patients happy, even if the antibiotics cannot treat the
illness at hand. As a result, antibiotics become more prevalent, the microbes they attack are more likely
to develop resistance, and over time the antibiotics become ineffective.
Misuse of Antibiotic
Watch the video, "Why Does Evolution Matter Now?" Travel inside a Russian prison to see the impact
of evolution on the lives of the inmates and the surrounding community. This video describes the
transmission of tuberculosis and the evolution of multiple drug-resistant strains of TB.
Answer these questions: Read before the video, answer after…..

Why is the Russian prison system considered to be "ground zero" in the fight against TB?

What is responsible for the evolution of TB strains that are resistant to multiple drugs?

How does the misuse of antibiotics affect the evolution of disease-causing bacteria? Use the
theory of natural selection to explain the growing resistance to antibiotics.

Why should we care about a resistant strain of TB in Russia?
Discussion
When you are done answering the questions on the previous page, discuss the answers with classmates
seated around you. Also, remember that the video uses the Russian prison system as an example of a
place where antibiotic resistance has taken hold. Antibiotic resistance is quite prevalent, and it is not
limited to such settings. Discuss where else you would expect this problem to exist.
Video 2:
Watch the video, “Science Bulletins: MRSA—The Evolution of a Drug-Resistant Superbug”.
Antibiotic Resistance in your Neiborhood:
Gather information about the use and misuse of antibiotics in your own neighborhood. Print the
Evolution and Antibiotic Resistance: Survey form (pdf) from my website, or obtain a copy from your
teacher. Try to find at least ten people of different ages to survey.
Ask local health professionals the following questions about antibiotics:
1. Unfinished prescriptions: If you have a pharmacy near your house, ask the pharmacist why it is
important to finish all prescriptions. If you have access to a doctor, ask your doctor why it is
important.
2. Prevalence of antibiotics: Ask a doctor how often he or she prescribes antibiotics.
3. Prevalence of infectious disease: Contact your local health department to gather data about the
incidence of infectious disease over the past few years.
4. Summarize the results of your survey. Do you think the misuse of antibiotics is a problem in your
community? Why or why not? Report your findings in class.
Spreading the Word
You and your teammates will work together as health professionals and researchers.
Your team has been hired to develop a public relations campaign to help inform the general public
about the threat of antibiotic resistance. You will gather information and produce an educational piece
(pamphlet, brochure, PowerPoint presentation, poster board, website, or video commercial) to inform
the general population.
The following resources might be helpful in your search.



Center for Disease Control: A Public Health Action Plan to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance
o The introduction to this extensive action plan provides a good overview of the state of
antibiotic resistance and some information about what federal agencies are doing to
address the problem.
Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics
o This nonprofit, international organization provides information for consumers about
what antibiotics are and how the public can help limit the development of antibiotic
resistance.
The Rise of Antibiotic-Resistant Infection
o This article for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's consumer newsletter describes
the threats and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance.

The Challenge of Antibiotic Resistance
o This feature article discusses strains of a staph infection that have emerged that are
resistant to their accustomed antidote.
Your research team needs to process the information you collect and design an informational product
for presentation to the class or distribution to a general audience. It should include:




An explanation of antibiotic resistance
An explanation of how natural selection influences the effectiveness of antibiotics and the
virulence of infectious agents
Information about how national and international agencies combat antibiotic resistance
Tips for how the public can help combat increased antibiotic resistance.