High School

Why might an extremely drug-resistant bacterial strain found in a hospital patient not infect other patients?

A. The strain went dormant and was waiting for the right conditions to reappear.
B. The strain reverted back to bacteria sensitive to common medicines.
C. The strain must have transformed into a new bacterial species.
D. The strain may have been less fit in other ways and died off before infecting others.

Answer :

Final answer:

An extremely drug-resistant bacterial strain found in a hospital patient not infect other patients is B. The strain reverted back to bacteria sensitive to common medicines.

Explanation:

An extremely drug-resistant bacterial strain found in a hospital patient may not infect other patients if it reverts back to bacteria that are sensitive to common medicines. This can happen due to changes in the bacteria's genetic material, allowing it to become susceptible to the drugs that were previously ineffective against it. This process is known as reversion, where the genetic mutations that led to drug resistance are reversed, making the bacteria once again sensitive to treatment.

Reversion can occur due to various mechanisms, including spontaneous mutations or the transfer of genetic material from other bacteria. If the drug-resistant strain reverts back to a sensitive state, it may no longer be able to survive and multiply in the presence of antibiotics. Therefore, it would be less likely to cause infections in other patients who are receiving appropriate treatment.

In conclusion, an extremely drug-resistant bacterial strain found in a hospital patient may not infect other patients if it undergoes reversion and becomes sensitive to common medicines. This highlights the importance of continued research and monitoring of drug-resistant bacteria to identify both the mechanisms of resistance and potential strategies to combat them. The correct answer is B. The strain reverted back to bacteria sensitive to common medicines.

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