Fleming, Florey and Chain Flashcards
What were Fleming, Florey and Chain responsible for?
Developing the worlds first antibiotic, penicillin.
What had scientists discovered by 1914? And what were the limitations?
Magic bullets, killed most microbes apart from staphylococcus.
What could staphylococcus lead to?
Pneumonia, meningitis.
How did Alexander Fleming find a solution for staphylococcus?
Came about by accident, left a petri dish full of staphylococcus in lab. Something grew killing the bacteria. Which he called penicillin.
What were Alexander Flemings mistakes?
He never tested penicillin to see if it worked on infected animals.
What did Florey and Chain decide to do when they discovered Flemings findings in 1937?
Put it to the test! Applied for funding and were given £25.
Who was the first person they treated with Penicillin?
Policeman Albert Alexander in 1940, accidentally scratched by a rose thorn which became infected. Penicillin improved Alexander’s condition until they ran out of supply. Which meant Alexander died.
Statistic to do with war and penicillin?
15% of people with infected injuries in the war had been saved by penicillin.
