KS3 Antibiotic Use and Medicine

When, Why and How to use antibiotics can be confusing for many people. The treatment of infection section explores the use of antibiotics and medicine in treating various illnesses and diseases. This lesson perfectly complements RSHE Health and Prevention guidelines.

Last Updated September 26, 2020 Medium English Antibiotic, Broad spectrum, Disease, Illness, Immune system, Infection, Medicine, Narrow spectrum, Natural barriers, Natural defences, Natural selection, Symptoms

Overview

What will you learn?

This lesson introduces how antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, providing a basis for e-Bug lesson on 'Antibiotic Resistance'.

Activities include:

Practical activity where acids and bases in agar plates are used to represent bacteria and antibiotics and students test a range of antibiotics (acid solutions) on bacteria (indicator in agar base) cultured from patient samples and determine which illness the patients have from a list provided.
Discussion activity encourages students to research relevant 'hot topics' related to antibiotic use today.

Learning Objectives:

Understand that most common infections will get better by themselves through time, bed rest, liquid intake and healthy living.
Understand that if you have antibiotics, finish the course.
Understand that you must not use other peoples or leftover antibiotics.
Understand that bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics due to overuse.
Understand that overuse of antibiotics can damage our normal/useful bacteria.

Requirements:

Petri dishes
Base Agar
Hot plate
Phenol Red
Wax Crayon/marker
Disposable droppers
Hydrochloric acid
Cork borer
Test tubes
Test tube rack

Curriculum Links:

Science: Working Scientifically, Experimental skills and investigations, Analysis and evaluation
RSHE: Health & Prevention
GCSE: Health and Social Care, Factors affecting health and wellbeing, health promotion

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Department for Education Recommendation

The Department for Education have listed e-Bug in their guidance for education and childcare during coronavirus. e-Bug resources are recommended for teaching Infection prevention and control topics, including hand and respiratory hygiene.

NICE Endorsement

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that schools, educational and residential settings for children and young people, use Public Health England’s e-Bug resources to teach about hygiene, infections and antibiotics. e-Bug supports implementation of NICE guidance on antimicrobial stewardship: changing risk-related behaviours in the general population (NG63).

e-Bug is a free educational resource, operated by Public Health England, which contributes to the government’s ongoing action plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance. e-Bug resources make learning about microbes, antibiotics and the spread and treatment of infection, engaging and accessible.

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DISCLAIMER: e-Bug was developed for use in schools pre-COVID-19 and so some activities may require modification based on your school’s distancing guidelines.

Please use your judgement and tell us how you have modified the activities, or if you would like to discuss some ideas, contact
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KS3 Antibiotic Use and Medicine

What will you learn?

Learning Objectives:

Requirements:

Curriculum Links:

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