21 why are patients that had to use broad spectrum

21. Why are patients that had to use broad-spectrum antibiotics particularly susceptible to fungal
infections?
a) Antibiotics remove healthy bacteria, which can lead to the unwanted multiplication of fungi, as
bacteria do not keep them in check any more
b) The use of antibiotics can make fungi resistant, which causes fungal infections
c) Fungi can feed on antibiotics, which makes them grow faster
d) Patients with bacterial infections have a reduced activity of the immune system and therefore
fungal but also viral infections are much more common to occur
e) Good bacteria continuously kill fungi in our body, so by removing the good bacteria fungi are not
killed any more and cause an infection
22. Why is the treatment of viral infections a particular challenge? 23. A patient has been diagnosed with flu caused by a virus. The GP is prescribing antibiotics. Why should
the patient refuse or at least seriously challenge this prescription?

d) It depends what the prescription is for. If it is a broad-spectrum antibiotic it will work against
viruses
e) Viruses only infect bacteria, not mammalian cells