Sir Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 by accident. Before antibiotics, bacterial infections routinely killed millions as there were no effective treatments. Fleming was studying influenza when he noticed a mold in his lab that prevented bacterial growth, which he identified as penicillin. Penicillin proved effective against certain bacteria like streptococcus and helped reduce deaths from infections. It revolutionized medicine and led to advances like organ transplants. However, overuse of antibiotics has led to increased resistance from bacteria over time.

1. The Discovery of Penicillin
ANGELA E. SPROAT
INTEGRATED NATURAL SCIENCES APPLICATIONS: TASK 1
WESTERN GOVERNOR’S UNIVERSITY

2. The Discovery of Penicillin: How Our
Understanding of Antibiotics Have
Changed
Sir Alexander Fleming was
credited for the discovery
of Penicillin in 1928.

3. Example 1Penicillin: Before Antibiotics
 Before 1928, fatal infections were part of everyone’s life. Infections routinely killed
millions of people throughout the world. A simple cut could become a fatal injury due
to bacterial infections that could not be treated. In 1918-1919, the Spanish Flu epidemic,
actually a combination of viral and bacterial disease killed millions around the world.
More died from Spanish Flu than were killed in World War 1.
 In early history, plants, moldy bread and warm soil were
often used to treat wounds.
 Patients were given beer soup, snake skins, frog bile and
sour milk as a protection against infections
 Sweetmeat was used as a desiccant and antibacterial

4. Example 2 : Before Antibiotics
 Ninety percent of children that contacted bacterial meningitis died
 Strep throat was considered a fatal disease and was responsible for the death of
George Washington
 Patients that had whooping cough, pneumonia or tuberculosis increased their
chances of dying from bacterial infection

5. Example 3: The Discovery of Penicillin
 Sir Alexander Fleming was considered a careless worker while in the lab
 At the time of the discovery, Fleming was experimenting on the influenza virus.
 While Fleming was on vacation, a mold developed on a contaminated culture
plate.
 After examining the plate, Fleming noticed the mold prevented the growth of
staphylococci bacteria.
 The mold was described as “ a fluffy white mass which rapidly increased in size
and after a few days sporulates”, and changed from green to yellow.

6. Example 4: The Early Years
 In the experimental stages, penicillin had no effect on gram negative bacteria, but
had an effect on gram positive bacteria such as streptococcus.
 In 1942, the first patient was treated successfully for streptococcal septicemia.
 Penicillin demands were high, but supplies were limited.
 During the first early months of 1943, there were only 400 million units of
penicillin available.

7. Part 3 Historical Event:
 Penicillin helped the Allies win World War 2 by saving lives of wounded
soldiers
 This antibiotic was effective against gangrene, a common cause of death
on the battlefield
 Penicillin treatment prevented septicemia (blood poisoning) from wounds
received
 It also caused a decrease in emergency amputations after injury

8. Social and Historical Context
 Calvin Coolidge was president of the United States (1923-1929) when penicillin was
discovered
 Penicillin was not supported by the public during its early years.
 It took several years before it was considered “safe”.
 Mass production began in 1944 after scientists accepted its usefulness.

9. Impact of Historical Event
 Between 1944 and early 1970s, life expectancy jumped by eight years.
 In 1969, US Surgeon General William Stewart was quoted, “ close the books on
infectious diseases.”
 He was appointed tenth Surgeon
General of the United States
from 1965 to 1969

10. Supporting Example 1
 Due to the discovery of penicillin, this antibiotic has been regarded as one of the
greatest achievements in medicine.
 Penicillin has reduced the number deaths from infections caused by accidental
injury or exposure to pathogenic bacteria
 It also reduced the number of post-surgical infections and helped lead to the
development of organ transplants and even open heart surgery

11. Supporting Example 2
 Penicillin has led to the discovery of other antibiotics
 Tetracyclines
 Sulfa Drugs
 Erythromycin
 Cephalosporins Penicillin mold with
dead zone around the
edge of plate.

12. Supporting Example 3
Antibiotic Resistance
 By the 1950s, the emergence of resistance came on the scene.
 At the end of the 1960s, no more antibiotics were not being developed.
 Most work was done on reducing toxicity and antibiotic resistance.
 Antibiotic resistance occurs when antibiotics lose their ability to control or kill
bacterial. Antibiotic resistance can occur with or without human control.
 Bacteria can produce and use antibiotics against other bacteria.
 Patients can overuse/abuse antibiotics

13. The Discovery of Penicillin
"One sometimes finds what one is not looking for"
(Sir Alexander Fleming)

14. Works Cited