On 24 November, National Science Culture Day was celebrated in Portugal. Following World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week, a special public engagement activity was organised by GHTM | Instituto Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa for this occasion.
As part of this initiative, a science communication quiz was launched on social media, aimed at the general public to challenge followers and raise awareness about the responsible use of antimicrobials. The quiz included true-or-false questions covering key topics such as:
1️⃣ Can antibiotic use in animals affect humans?
2️⃣ Do vaccines help reduce antibiotic use?
3️⃣ Do antibiotics only kill disease-causing bacteria?
4️⃣ Can the human body develop resistance to antibiotics over time?
5️⃣ Can prolonged use of antibiotics lead to fungal infections?
The quiz revealed an excellent level of knowledge among participants and highlighted the public’s engagement with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) issues. Today, we share the correct answers:
1️⃣ True – Antibiotic use in animals can affect humans, as resistant bacteria can circulate between humans and animals through contact, food, and the environment.
2️⃣ True – Vaccines help reduce antibiotic use by preventing infections and lowering the need for treatments.
3️⃣ False – Antibiotics do not only target harmful bacteria; they can also affect beneficial bacteria, potentially disturbing the gut microbiota.
4️⃣ False – Resistance develops in bacteria, not in the human body.
5️⃣ True – Prolonged antibiotic use can disrupt normal bacterial flora, allowing opportunistic fungi, such as Candida spp., to grow.
Through this public-oriented initiative, GHTM | IHMT-NOVA reinforces its commitment to making science accessible and fostering a better understanding of AMR. It is also an opportunity to celebrate the work of researchers who generate knowledge, develop solutions to health problems, and contribute daily to improving people’s lives worldwide.
National Science Culture Day was established in Portugal in 1996 in honour of Rómulo de Carvalho, a prominent figure in the promotion of science education and culture. Besides his work as a science teacher, Rómulo de Carvalho was also a poet under the pseudonym António Gedeão, reflecting the harmony between science and creativity.