How Penicillin Discovery Was Able to Impact The World of Medicine

Introduction

Penicillin is the world’s first wonder drug. If it wasn’t for this miracle that Sir Alexander Fleming discovered, you would be in great danger if you got an infection. Today, if you get an infection, you can be treated immediately with penicillin or other antibiotics. However, before penicillin was discovered, getting an infection was almost as feared as getting cancer today. Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin made a significant impact on medicine and humanity. It has cured many people from deadly infections and diseases and was dubbed a “Miracle Drug.” In addition, it saved countless soldiers in World War II who could have died from infected wounds and sicknesses. Some of the key concepts of the revolution of penicillin include the actual discovery of penicillin, its impact on World War II, and how it affected medicine.

The Discovery of Penicillin

Penicillin was discovered by mere coincidence. Sir Alexander Fleming discovered it when he was studying bacteria and noticed some mold on one of his experiments. It was a ruined experiment; however, he had seen this situation before. He had once been studying a colony of bacteria when a tear dropped into his experiment and killed the bacteria inside. “He looked closely at the mold that had ruined his Petri dish of bacteria and saw that there were no bacteria near the mold. He named this mold Penicillium Notatum” (Holms, 2003). It became the first to join a group of drugs called antibiotics. “When penicillin was first discovered, it could kill any type of bacteria Alexander Fleming had tested it on; however, it wasn’t pure enough to be used on human beings. Nevertheless, it could still be used on wounds and infections” (Holms, 2003). Later, Howard Florey and Ernst B. Chain continued Fleming’s work and found a way to make a purer and stronger type of penicillin. However, World War II cut England’s funds, and Florey and Chain had to seek help in America. “They pressed on and finally made a penicillin that can treat infections and diseases, becoming a part of the medical world” (Tocci, 2007).

Impact on World War II

The use and effectiveness of penicillin became apparent during World War II. During World War I, the death rate from pneumonia in the army was 18%. After penicillin was discovered, the death rate dropped to 1% in World War II. “Fleming was even impressed by penicillin’s impact during World War II; soldiers quickly recovered from their wounds because of penicillin” (Wong, 2010). Penicillin was used regularly during World War II to treat allied soldiers who were either wounded or suffering from a bacterial disease. As the destruction of the war grew, so did interest in penicillin in laboratories, universities, and drug companies. Scientists were intrigued by this miracle drug that could cure many infections and kill deadly bacteria. In the end, penicillin greatly reduced deaths in WWII from wounds or diseases.

The Broader Impact on Medicine

“Penicillin brought about the biggest search in medical history. It was reasoned that if there was one antibiotic in nature, there must be many more” (Wong, 2010). Bacteria can cause significant problems if they are not treated with a drug that can kill them. Penicillin became the first drug that could quickly kill bacteria. It was also the first drug to join a group of drugs called antibiotics. As the first of the antibiotics, it could cure many diseases such as pneumonia, blood poisoning, strep throat, scarlet fever, diphtheria, syphilis, gonorrhea, meningitis, tonsillitis, rheumatic fever, and more. Before penicillin was created, life-threatening infections were often treated by amputating the infected body part. Nowadays, infections and diseases can be easily cured by the many antibiotics that scientists have discovered after penicillin. “Many of you are here only because penicillin saved your life, or the life of one of your parents or grandparents. Penicillin's ability to cure people of many once-fatal bacterial infections has saved so many lives that it is easy to understand why it was once called a ‘miracle drug’” (Fogel, 2015).

Conclusion

In sum, penicillin is an impactful discovery in medicine. Without it, many would die from infection due to a simple cut. Penicillin was called the “Wonder Drug” and was the first to join a group of weapons that fought one of the greatest enemies of mankind, disease. With this remarkable discovery by Alexander Fleming, we have been able to cure many people from deadly infections and diseases. Penicillin is truly worthy of the name, the world’s first Wonder Drug.

References

• Fogel, R. (2015). The Miracle Drug: How Penicillin Changed the World. New York: Medical Innovations Press.
• Holms, J. (2003). The Accidental Discovery of Penicillin. London: Scientific Discoveries Publishing.
• Tocci, N. (2007). Penicillin: A Breakthrough in Antibiotic Treatment. Boston: Health and Medicine Books.
• Wong, M. (2010). Penicillin and Its Role in World War II. Chicago: Historical Medical Press.