Antibiotics
In this lesson, students learn about antibiotics and practice explaining key points to patients in English. By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
- Explain what antibiotics do and how they fight bacteria
- Tell patients what antibiotics do not work for
- Explain why patients must finish their full prescription
- Describe warning signs patients should watch for
vocabulary | discussion questions | reading article | comprehension questions | printable worksheet
Click any word to hear its pronunciation.
Click any word to hear it spoken aloud using text-to-speech.
Brainstorm: What are some different types of antibiotics? List as many as you can.
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Discussion questions: Discuss with a partner or in groups before reading.
- What do antibiotics do?
- Do antibiotics help with colds and coughs? Explain.
- What do you know about bacteria?
- What should a patient know about antibiotics?
Read the article and then answer the comprehension questions below.
Antibiotics are strong medications that fight infections in the body. There are many classes of antibiotics and they have different effects on bacteria. Some antibiotics weaken cell walls. Some antibiotics block protein synthesis or DNA synthesis. Antibiotics can kill bacteria (bactericidal) or they can stop them from replicating or growing (bacteriostatic). Each antibiotic has specific characteristics and they don't work against all types of bacteria.
It is important that patients know several things about antibiotics:
- Antibiotics don't work against viral infections such as colds and the flu.
- Antibiotics don't work against sore throats and coughs.*
- It is important to finish all of the medication even if you feel better.
If a patient doesn't finish the prescription, it could be dangerous. Patients usually will feel better after 2-3 days. However, the bacteria might not be completely gone. If a patient stops taking their medication, the bacteria may grow, causing the patient to become sick again. Also, the bacteria might become resistant to the antibiotic making it more difficult to fight.
Problems can occur with antibiotics. If the patient notices a rash, swelling, or any other allergic reaction, they should stop taking the medication and contact their physician immediately. Also, if the patient has problems with nausea or vomiting, they should stop the medication and contact their physician. A more tolerable alternative might be available.
* Sore throats and coughs are generally caused by viruses.
Comprehension questions:
1. What do antibiotics do in the body?
2. What are two ways antibiotics fight bacteria?
3. Give two examples of conditions that antibiotics do not work for.
4. Why is it important to finish your full antibiotic prescription?
Partner summary: Without looking at the article, explain to your partner what antibiotics are, how they work, and what a patient needs to know about taking them. Your partner should be able to answer the comprehension questions from your explanation alone.
Use the key vocabulary naturally in your explanation. Try to cover: how antibiotics work, what they don't work for, why the full course must be completed, and what side effects to watch for.
The worksheet below contains the brainstorm activity, vocabulary list, article, and comprehension questions for classroom use. Download PDF
For Teachers
Antibiotics - Answer Keys & Classroom Guidance
Suggested answers to all discussion and comprehension questions, a step-by-step lesson plan, and notes on antibiotic mechanisms for teacher reference.
This Talking About Medication lesson focuses on antibiotics - one of the most commonly dispensed medications and a frequent source of patient misunderstanding. The key patient education points (antibiotics don't work on viruses; finish the full course; watch for allergic reactions) are the core communication goals. The lesson works well as a jigsaw activity or as a self-study reading. The printable PDF worksheet is the primary classroom tool.
Brainstorm (5 min)
Students list as many antibiotic names as they can in pairs or small groups. This activates prior knowledge and often reveals how much students already know from their clinical experience. Common answers: penicillin, amoxicillin, cephalexin, erythromycin, tetracycline, vancomycin, ciprofloxacin.
Vocabulary warm-up (5 min)
Go over the key vocabulary. Draw attention to the paired terms: bactericidal (kills bacteria) vs. bacteriostatic (stops growth). Ask students to use each word in a sentence before reading.
Discussion questions (5-10 min)
Have students discuss the warm-up questions before reading. The question "Do antibiotics help with colds?" is a good diagnostic - many patients (and students) are unsure. Let students debate before the article gives the answer.
Reading and comprehension (10-15 min)
Students read the article individually, then explain the key points to a partner. The partner answers the comprehension questions based only on what they heard. Then roles switch. This builds the oral communication skills needed for patient counseling.
Follow-up speaking (5-10 min)
Students roleplay a pharmacist or nurse counseling a patient who has just been given an antibiotic prescription. The patient should ask at least one question (e.g. "Can I stop taking it when I feel better?"). This puts the language into a realistic clinical context.
What do antibiotics do?
They fight bacterial infections in the body. Depending on the class, they either kill bacteria directly (bactericidal) or stop bacteria from replicating or growing (bacteriostatic).
Do antibiotics help with colds and coughs? Explain.
No. Colds, the flu, sore throats, and coughs are generally caused by viruses, not bacteria. Antibiotics only work against bacterial infections, so they have no effect on viral illnesses.
What do you know about bacteria?
Open answer. Key points: bacteria are single-celled microorganisms; some are harmful (pathogenic) and some are harmless or beneficial; bacteria have cell walls (unlike viruses); bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics if not fully eliminated.
What should a patient know about antibiotics?
That they only work against bacterial infections; that the full prescription must be completed even if symptoms improve; that they should watch for allergic reactions (rash, swelling) and gastrointestinal side effects (nausea, vomiting); and to contact their physician if problems occur.
1. What do antibiotics do in the body?
They fight bacterial infections. They can kill bacteria (bactericidal) or stop them from replicating or growing (bacteriostatic).
2. What are two ways antibiotics fight bacteria?
Any two of: weaken cell walls; block protein synthesis; block DNA synthesis; kill bacteria directly; stop bacteria from replicating or growing.
3. Give two examples of conditions that antibiotics do not work for.
Any two of: colds, the flu, sore throats, coughs. (These are caused by viruses, not bacteria.)
4. Why is it important to finish your full antibiotic prescription?
Patients often feel better after 2-3 days but the bacteria may not be completely gone. If they stop early, the remaining bacteria can grow again making the patient sick again, and may become resistant to the antibiotic making it harder to treat next time.
For teachers who want to explain specific antibiotic classes to advanced students:
Penicillins
Inhibit formation of the bacterial cell wall by blocking cross-linking of the cell wall structure. The cell wall is a needed protective casing for the bacterial cell.
Cephalosporins
Similar to penicillins in mode of action but treat a broader range of bacterial infections. Many patients with penicillin allergies also react to cephalosporins.
Macrolides (e.g., erythromycin)
Inhibit protein synthesis by binding to a subunit of the bacterial ribosome.
Quinolones
Block DNA synthesis by inhibiting DNA gyrase, an enzyme needed in the process.
Tetracyclines
Inhibit protein synthesis by binding to the 30S subunit of the bacterial ribosome.
Aminoglycosides
Inhibit protein synthesis by binding to a portion of the bacterial ribosome. Most are bactericidal.
