Explain why diseases caused by viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics.

Eduqas GCSE Biology — 3.2 Communicable disease · Explain · 4 marks · View as Markdown

Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).

Model answer (4 marks)

Antibiotics kill or inhibit bacteria, not viruses.
Viruses are not living cells and are not bacteria.
Viruses replicate only inside host cells.
Antibiotics cannot enter host cells or reach viruses inside the cell.

Examiner tips

State the main reason first – antibiotics target bacteria. Mention that viruses are not bacteria. Explain replication inside host cells. Highlight that antibiotics cannot reach intracellular viruses.

Common mistakes

Confusing antibiotics with antiviral drugs. Saying viruses are just small bacteria. Forgetting that antibiotics cannot penetrate host cells.

Mark scheme (4 marks)

Antibiotics kill/inhibit bacteria (not viruses)
Viruses are not living cells / viruses are not bacteria
Viruses reproduce/replicate inside host cells
Antibiotics cannot enter host cells / cannot reach the virus inside the cell

Key terms in this question

antibiotics · viruses