The Evolution of Antibiotics

The history of antibiotics began before the modern era, with ancient civilizations using moldy bread to treat infections. The term 'antibiotic' was first used by Selman Waksman in 1942.

In 1928, Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered penicillin, the first true antibiotic, when a mold contaminated his Staphylococcus cultures and killed the bacteria.

Despite Fleming's discovery, it wasn't until World War II that penicillin was mass-produced. The war's urgent need for treatments sped up the development and production processes.

In 1945, the antibiotic tetracycline was discovered, derived from soil bacteria. It marked a new era of antibiotics sourced from natural organisms in our environment.

Contrary to common belief, antibiotic resistance is ancient. Bacteria from permafrost over 30,000 years old have shown resistance genes, highlighting a long-standing evolutionary arms race.

The 1960s saw the development of the first fully synthetic antibiotics, providing new pathways to combat bacteria without relying on naturally occurring substances.

Antibiotics have been used extensively in agriculture since the 1950s, not only to treat sick animals but to promote growth, an application contributing to increased resistance.