Dr. Alexander Fleming and the discovery of penicillin

Abstract

In our era of advanced medical technology, it is difficult to imagine a time when clinical treatment was absent or largely ineffective. Patients of the early 20th century had few options when it came to medical therapy. Many of the people admitted to hospitals at that time suffered from bacterial infections, which caused major morbidity and mortality, as antibiotics were not yet present. Dr. Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin and the subsequent development of antibiotics were the most significant advances that revolutionized the practice of medicine. The details of Fleming’s life and work reveal a story combining his grand achievements with the accomplishments of others, intermixed with some measure of luck, arbitrariness, and serendipity.