What are antibiotics?
Antibiotics were first discovered in 1928 by a scientist named Sir Alexander Fleming. Fleming discovered that when Penicillium notatum, a fungus, grew on a culture plate also growing Staphylococcus, it prevented growth of the bacteria. Upon further investigation, Fleming realized that the lack of bacterial growth was a direct result of the antibiotic properties of Penicillium notatum. Later, scientists would isolate this fungus and create the first utilized antibiotic, calling it Penicillin. The history behind the story of the development of Penicillin is in fact quite interesting, and can be read here. [Read more…] about Antibiotic resistance and you: what YOU need to know