Antibiotics are a medicine that inhibits the growth of or destroys microorganisms that cause infections and diseases. Since the drug 's inception in 1929 we have seen a dramatic reduction in deaths caused by infection and many other bacterial based diseases. Antibiotics have increased the longetivity of people 's lives around the world; it 's now a rarity to hear of people dying of bacterial infections in modern world. Recently we have seen certain types of bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics, labelled 'the superbugs '. We now a see the emergence of diseases that were once a thing of the past, sparking a worldwide panic.
In 1929, microbiologist Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, a naturally growing substance that could destroy certain types of bacteria. Penicillin is a mould that disintegrates the cell walls of bacteria, and after years of testing on animals and humans scientists were able to use it in the form of a tablet or an injection on infected people. This new antibiotic was used widely on soldiers during World War 2, helping people suffering from pneumonia and wound infections, saving so many lives people called …show more content…
Over 80% of all antibiotics are given to farm animals, meaning that a mere 20% of antibiotics are used for treating human disease. During the mid 20th century antibiotics were harder to get access to because of manufacturing inefficiencies. During the period between 1940-2000 the effectiveness of antibiotics was very high with an increase in the average life expectancy in countries with access to the drug. From the year 2001 the effectiveness of the drug has dropped because of resistance in the bacteria caused by random mutations and becoming dominant because of natural selection. As a result we see people dying of once antibiotic treatable
In 1929, microbiologist Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, a naturally growing substance that could destroy certain types of bacteria. Penicillin is a mould that disintegrates the cell walls of bacteria, and after years of testing on animals and humans scientists were able to use it in the form of a tablet or an injection on infected people. This new antibiotic was used widely on soldiers during World War 2, helping people suffering from pneumonia and wound infections, saving so many lives people called …show more content…
Over 80% of all antibiotics are given to farm animals, meaning that a mere 20% of antibiotics are used for treating human disease. During the mid 20th century antibiotics were harder to get access to because of manufacturing inefficiencies. During the period between 1940-2000 the effectiveness of antibiotics was very high with an increase in the average life expectancy in countries with access to the drug. From the year 2001 the effectiveness of the drug has dropped because of resistance in the bacteria caused by random mutations and becoming dominant because of natural selection. As a result we see people dying of once antibiotic treatable