The importance of penicillin Flashcards
Who discovered penicillin?
Alexander Fleming
How did Alexander Fleming ‘accidentally’ discover penicillin?
He left petri dishes with bacteria and noticed the mould that grew, killed the bacteria.
Who are Florey and Chain?
2 Oxford scientists that managed to make pure penicillin in 1938.
Why was penicillin mass produced by the US?
So that it could be used in the army during WW2.
(Over 2.3 million doses)
What happened to penicillin in 1948?
NHS made it free for all
It was called a ‘Wonder drug’
Why was penicillin important? example?
Doctors could now treat bacteria based diseases e.g pneumonia.
Child birth infections and death decreased to almost 0
What did the discovery of penicillin lay the foundation for?
Streptomycin development in 1943
What is streptocymin?
A strong antibiotic that could even cure tuberculosis.
