A Lucky Strike

Antibiotics are drugs that kill dangerous bacteria in our bodies that make us sick. In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered the first antibiotic, penicillin, which he grew in his laboratory. Without antibiotics, many infections could be deadly.

Alexander Fleming Inspecting a Bacteria Culture

The biologist Alexander Fleming was researching a bacteria called staphylococci. Returning from holiday one time in 1928, he saw that one of the glass culture dishes he had accidentally left out had been contaminated by a fungus, and noticed that the bacteria did not grow in the area surrounding the fungus.

Bacteria Staying Away From The Penicillium Colony

Years later, after further research by other scientists, penicillin was able to be produced on an industrial scale, changing the way doctors treated bacterial infections forever.

Some Penicillin Medicines

Penicillin antibiotics are historically significant because they are the first drugs that were effective against many previously deadly diseases such as Staphylococcus infections.