Dr. Collins and the Case of the Mysterious Infection

By Paula P. Lemons, Sarah K. Huber

Abstract

In this case study, Dr. Collins must diagnose and prescribe treatment for a young patient with a serious infection. Students receive pieces of the case in a progressive disclosure format and answer questions about bacterial infection, antibiotics, and antibiotic resistance. The case was designed for the seminar component of a large-enrollment, introductory biology course. In addition to seminar, students in the course also attend lecture and laboratory. Teaching assistants lead the 12-student seminars, during which students engage in directed inquiry exercises such as this case.

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Date Posted

08/01/2001

Overview

Objectives

Describe some of the biochemical mechanisms by which antibiotics act against bacteria.
Evaluate which antibiotics would be effective against a given type of bacteria.
Apply basic knowledge of DNA, genes, and proteins (and the relationship between them) to a new question, i.e., how do changes in DNA observed by pulsed-field gel electorophoresis impact patterns of antibiotic resistance?
Synthesize the relationship between antibiotic consumption and antibiotic resistance based on what’s been learned about bacteria, antibiotics, and natural selection.
More adeptly use data from charts and gels to answer questions.

Keywords

Antibiotics; antibiotic resistance; bacteria; infection; infectious disease; pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

Subject Headings

Biology (General)

Microbiology

Public Health

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

High school, Undergraduate lower division, General public & informal education

FORMAT

PDF

TOPICAL AREAS

N/A

LANGUAGE

English

TYPE/METHODS

Interrupted

Teaching Notes & Answer Key

Teaching Notes

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Answer Key

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