Examining Antibiotic Resistance Hypotheses

Very Hard Conflicting Viewpoints Comparing Hypotheses

In a recent examination of the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in bacterial populations, two research teams proposed differing hypotheses.

Team A posits that antibiotic resistance is primarily driven by the overprescription of antibiotics in both human medicine and agriculture, leading to higher survival rates of resistant bacteria.

Team B contends that environmental factors, such as pollution and poor sanitation, considerably contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance, regardless of antibiotic use.

Based on their hypotheses, the teams designed experiments to test the impact of antibiotic usage versus environmental conditions on the resistance of bacterial strains. Team A conducted a study analyzing data from medical records and agricultural practices, while Team B focused on environmental samples from various regions with differing sanitation standards.

Which of the following conclusions aligns most closely with the findings of Team A while simultaneously presenting a contrasting viewpoint to Team B?

Increased antibiotic usage correlates with higher rates of antibiotic-resistant infections, indicating a direct relationship.

Sanitation improvements alone can reduce resistance levels, regardless of antibiotic use.

Environmental factors play a significant role in antibiotic resistance, but they are secondary to the effects of antibiotic overuse.

Antibiotic resistance can only be mitigated through the reduction of antibiotic prescriptions, making environmental sanitation irrelevant.

Hint

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