Facts- Medicine Flashcards
Who discovered penicillin and when?
Penicillin was discovered in the 19th century by Lister, who used it to treat a wound but never published his notes.
What was Alexander Fleming’s role during WWI?
During WWI, Alexander Fleming was sent by St Mary’s Hospital in London to study the treatment of wounded soldiers.
What did Fleming observe about antiseptics?
Fleming observed that antiseptics were unable to prevent infection, prompting him to search for something that would kill the microbes causing infection.
What dangerous germ did Fleming focus on?
Fleming focused on staphylococci, which caused septicaemia.
What significant discovery did Fleming make in 1928?
In 1928, Fleming discovered penicillin when he noticed a mould on a petri dish that killed the staphylococci germ.
What did Fleming conclude about penicillin?
Fleming concluded that penicillin was a natural antiseptic, but today it is known as an antibiotic.
What was missing from Fleming’s initial research on penicillin?
A key test missing from Fleming’s work was injecting penicillin into the blood, which would have demonstrated its medicinal properties.
What happened after WWI regarding penicillin?
After WWI, a government-sponsored program was initiated to develop and produce penicillin, which became widely used to treat various diseases.
Who received the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1945?
Fleming, Chain, and Florey received the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1945.
What did Howard Florey and Ernst Chain do in 1937?
In 1937, Florey and Chain began researching penicillin after reading Fleming’s article and had the funds to develop the drug.
What was the outcome of Florey and Chain’s first human trial?
Their first trial was on a policeman with an infection, but he died after 5 days due to running out of the drug, though they had seen success.
What antibiotics followed penicillin?
Other antibiotics that followed included streptomycin in 1944, tetracycline in 1953, and mitomycin in 1956.
What was developed in 1950 to treat arthritis?
Cortisone was developed in 1950 to treat arthritis.
How did WWII affect penicillin production?
WWII sped up penicillin production as the US government paid drug companies to manufacture it in large quantities.
How many soldiers were treated with penicillin by 1945?
By 1945, 250,000 soldiers were treated with penicillin, saving thousands of lives.
