Ten fun facts about Antibiotics

Fact 1
The first commercially available antibacterial was developed in 1932, but mold and plant extracts were used to treat infections by ancient Egyptians and Greeks over 2,000 years ago.

Fact 2
Penicillin wasn't actually discovered until 1928, but the ancient Egyptians had the practice of applying moldy bread to infected wounds for treatment.

Fact 3
The resistance of antibiotics has become one of the world's most pressing public health problems.

Fact 4
Penicillin was an important antibiotic back in 1941 when it became more popular, because it helped treat battle wounds for soldiers. It was named the 'miracle drug'.

Fact 5
While antibiotics have many advantages, they can have adverse effects in people ranging from nausea to diarrhea or even the over growth in pathogenic bacteria.

Fact 6
Sometimes referred to as super bugs, nearly half a million new cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis occur worldwide.

Fact 7
Though antibiotics are useful in many situations, overuse of antibiotics is one of the reasons that more antibiotic-resistant bacterias occur.

Fact 8
Antibiotics can help some ear infections, cuts or wounds and even tonsillitis, but are not helpful for the common cold or viruses.

Fact 9
As of 2009, only 2 new antibiotics were approved in the United States.

Fact 10
There are several different kinds of anti-microbials - the most common, anti-bacterials also known as antibiotics, antivirals, anti-fungals and anti-parasitic drugs.

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Invasion of the hosts body tissue.

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A life threatening allergic reaction.

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Alexander Fleming

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A fungi species.

Ancient Greeks

were people belonging to the Greek civilization during a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity.

Benjamin Cabrera

is a Filipino physician who has done research on medical parasitology and public health

Gertrude Belle Elion

Was an American pharmacologist and biochemist who was famous for her scientific discovery of drugs to treat leukemia and herpes and to prevent the rejection of kidney transplants.