3.33 Antibiotic resistance

3.33 understand how resistance to antibiotics can increase in bacterial populations

Staphylococcus aureus (SA) causes Skin infections and Lung infections

It can be treated with methicillin, an antibiotic that can kill SA.
This type of SA, that can be killed by the antibiotic is the susceptible form
MSSA - methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus.

Through random mutation to the genotype, a type of SA is formed that does not die when given methicillin. This is known as the resistant form
MRSA - methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus.

This mutation is therefore a beneficial mutation as it aids the species in its survival.