Explain why it is important to take a full course of prescribed antibiotics.

An individual may feel better before completing a full course of antibiotics, however, this does not mean that all of the bacteria in the body have been destroyed.

If low levels of bacteria remain in the body and antibiotics are stopped then the remaining bacteria could reproduce. 

Bacteria that are more resistant to the antibiotic tend to survive longer, therefore the resistant population survives and will reproduce. 

The patient is likely to then get ill again as the bacteria keep reproducing and can then be resistant to standard antibiotics. 

LM
Answered by Laura M. Biology tutor

10591 Views

See similar Biology GCSE tutors

Related Biology GCSE answers

All answers ▸

What is Homeostasis and how does it work?


Describe the process of phagocytosis.


Describe the structure of proteins in terms of Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and Quaternary structures


Why is scarlet fever, caused by Streptococcus bacteria, more common in children than adults?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning