"One sometimes finds what one is not looking for."
-Alexander Fleming

ThE First antibiotic

Penicillin was  accidently discovered in 1928 by Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming. Fleming noticed mold growing in a lab dish containing common bacteria, and the bacteria around the mold had died.

Touch image to learn more about Alexander Fleming.

Throughout the years, further labs and testing were carried out by other scientists, including Howard Florey and Ernst Chain, who worked on the purification of penicillin. Using new chemical techniques, they were able to produce a safe penicillin powder by around 1940.

Mass production started quickly for use at war front. Penicillin saved many lives during WWII that would have been lost due to minor wounds or bacterial infections.

Fleming discovered penicillin, and Florey and Chain made it a usable product. The three of them were awarded the 1945 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

The discovery of penicillin led to other antibiotic discoveries, such as streptomycin.

Fleming being awarded the Nobel Prize