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1942 – gramicidin S, the first peptide antibiotic; 1942 – sulfadimidine; 1943 – sulfamerazine; 1944 – streptomycin, the first aminoglycoside [2] 1947 – sulfadiazine; 1948 – chlortetracycline, the first tetracycline; 1949 – chloramphenicol, the first amphenicol [2] 1949 – neomycin; 1950 – oxytetracycline; 1950 – penicillin G ...
[1] [2] They may either kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. A limited number of antibiotics also possess antiprotozoal activity. [3] [4] Antibiotics are not effective against viruses such as the ones which cause the common cold or influenza. [5] Drugs which inhibit growth of viruses are termed antiviral drugs or antivirals.
The cephalosporins (and other β-lactams) have the ability to kill bacteria by inhibiting essential steps in the bacterial cell wall synthesis which in the end results in osmotic lysis and death of the bacterial cell. [2] Cephalosporins are widely used antibiotics because of their clinical efficiency and desirable safety profile. [3]
1928 – Alexander Fleming notices that a certain mould could stop the duplication of bacteria, leading to the first antibiotic: penicillin. 1933 – Hybrid corn is commercialized. 1942 – Penicillin is mass-produced in microbes for the first time. 1950 – The first synthetic antibiotic is created.
Modern antibiotics are tested using a method similar to Fleming's discovery. Fleming also discovered very early that bacteria developed antibiotic resistance whenever too little penicillin was used or when it was used for too short a period. Almroth Wright had predicted antibiotic resistance even before it was noticed during experiments.
Production of antibiotics is a naturally occurring event, that thanks to advances in science can now be replicated and improved upon in laboratory settings. Due to the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming, and the efforts of Florey and Chain in 1938, large-scale, pharmaceutical production of antibiotics has been made possible.
Antimicrobial use has been common practice for at least 2000 years. Ancient Egyptians and ancient Greeks used specific molds and plant extracts to treat infection. [5]In the 19th century, microbiologists such as Louis Pasteur and Jules Francois Joubert observed antagonism between some bacteria and discussed the merits of controlling these interactions in medicine. [6]
Bactericidals kill bacteria directly, whereas bacteriostatics prevent them from dividing. However, these classifications are based on laboratory behavior. The development of antibiotics has had a profound effect on the health of people for many years. Also, both people and animals have used antibiotics to treat infections and diseases.