The document outlines a timeline of antibiotic resistance from the 1940s to present day. It describes the golden era of antibiotic development from the 1940s-1960s with the introduction of penicillin and other drugs. However, resistance began emerging only years later, with resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus identified in the 1940s. While new antibiotics continued to be discovered, resistance increased sharply over time. Since the 1960s, fewer new antibiotics have been developed, leaving many bacterial diseases vulnerable as resistance renders many drugs ineffective.

1. A Timeline of Antibiotic
Resistance
See timeline above

2. Golden Era of Development
 Introduction of antibiotic agents with penicillin in the 1940s
produced a breakthrough health intervention, saving millions of
lives
 The ‘golden era’ of antibiotic discovery in the 1940s-1960s
 Streptomycin, tetracycline, vancomycin developed among many
others
 Commercial development of a huge number of drug classes
 Global effort to find new antibiotics through screening of microbes
 Many bacterial diseases receded

3. Emergence of Resistance
 A parallel surge in strains of antibiotic resistant bacteria
appeared only years after development of the antibiotic
 As early as the 1940s isolates of Staphylococcus
aureus resistant to penicillin were identified
 Although antibiotic agent discovery continued,
resistance has began to increase sharply
 Loss of effectiveness becoming common for all
antibiotics after continued use

4. Number of unique β-lactamase
(resistance causing) enzymes identified

5. Increasing Development Gaps
and Growing Resistance
 Since the 1960s, development of antibiotics has been
declining
 Larger gaps between development of new antibiotics
 Only one new antibiotic agent in the last decade
 Development becoming more expensive for drug
companies
 Many of the most effective antibacterials have now
been rendered ineffective – with many multidrug
resistant strains arising
 Leaves an uncertain future concerning bacterial
diseases

6. References
 Timeline produced by Centre of Disease Control and
Prevention USA, found at:
 https://thefern.org/2013/11/imagining-the-post-antibiotics-
future/timeline-of-antibiotic-resistance/
 Graph and other information
 Davies J, Davies D. Origins and evolution of antibiotic
resistance. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews.
2010;74(3):417-433.