Antibiotics are drugs used to kill or slow down the growth of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi and pathogens. Since the discovery of the first antibiotic –penicillin –in 1928, more antibiotic discoveries were made, especially between the 1940s and the 1980s (Whiteman, 2014). Some notable discoveries include the discovery of cephalosporins in 1948, carbapenems in 1976 and fluoroquinolones in 1980. The use of antibiotics have transformed modern medicine, and has saved lives for many years — however, the incorrect use of antibiotics has been the main driver of antibiotic resistance. According to Dr Charles Penn, coordinator of antimicrobial resistance at WHO, antibiotics use is so high because of the poor understanding of the differences between microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and pathogens, and also because of the poor understanding of proper use and value of antibiotics (Whiteman, 2014).
This paper will delve at discussing the invention, the reason for the invention, and the value and purpose of antibiotics. The paper will also discuss how antibiotics were used throughout history, how their use evolved, and the significant features of the invention of antibiotics as well as the components of antibiotics and how these components are used to make antibiotics. Lastly, the paper will provide a conclusion, which is a summary of the contents discussed in the paper.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Who originally invented Antibiotics?
The discovery of antibiotics –penicillin –was a major medical breakthrough. Penicillin was the first effective antibiotics and was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1948. Alexander Fleming is a Scottish researcher who was a professor of Bacteriology. Fleming was working at the St. Mary's Hospital, located in the London United Kingdom. Although the discovery was the most significant scientific accomplishments of the twentieth century, the age of antibiotics began in 1907 with the creation of Salvarsan by Paul Ehrlich and Alfred Bertheim ( Modi, Collins & Relman, 2014) . On the contrary, Salvarsan or Arsphenamine was the first drug to counter the Syphilis disease effectively marking the beginning of anti-bacterial treatment. Consequently, the discovery of the anti-bacterial class of Penicillin Notatum by Fleming around 1928 was the time antibiotics started gaining popularity (Solberg et al., 2013) . Therefore, the original invention by Paul Ehrlich and Alfred Bertheim transformed medicine and in a mixture with vaccines has assisted in eliminating diseases like tuberculosis.
Why were Antibiotics initially Invented?
Antibiotics were initially invented to slow done or destroy bacterial infections. Some bacteria are harmless, but others are pathogenic to humans and can result in serious infections. During the pre-antibiotic era, individuals had no medicines to treat these common germs. The invention came about in the late 19th century when scientists decided to put the local chemicals used to treat bacteria into the laboratory ( ( Modi, Collins & Relman, 2014) . Fleming, during his lab experiments, discovered Penicillin. He found the drug was capable of eliminating bacteria from the organism he was experimenting. This led to many other laboratory experiments to prove if the drug works. Fleming and other scientist put penicillin to trial and they discovered that the drug that it actually works. The discovery of penicillin is considered a significant medical breakthrough.
Do Antibiotics still Hold the Same Value and Purpose?
Antibiotics do not hold the same purpose and value because of the increased adaptability of bacteria to endure in the availability of antibiotics has become a significant threat in public health (de Araújo et al., 2012) . The bacteria have developed the resistance against the antibiotics developed earlier. The invention of antibiotics has changed a lot of lives. The antibiotics led to the inventions of other medicine, which can also cure other diseases. Since its first use, the bacteria has become a threat to society again. The resistance has been developed because of two major reasons. First, there has not been any major development on the antibiotics developed. Secondly, other people have been misusing the drug hence the resistance by the bacteria. Due to the change in the value of antibiotics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classified other bacteria as a threat (Jose & Jha, 2016) . The initially invented antibiotics have lost the power to deal with the latest breeds of bacteria. Therefore, lack of development and misuse of the antibiotics has led change in its value and purpose.
How were Antibiotics used throughout Time?
Antibiotics were used throughout time to treat bacterial infections by destroying the formation of the cell wall of the bacterium and its cell contents (Toledo-Pereyra et al., 2012). The invention of antibiotics in the form of Bacteriostatic antibiotic was also used to prevent bacteria from multiplying by destroying DNA replication and bacterial protein production.
How has the Use of the Antibiotics Evolved ?
From the time of antibiotics invention, it was used to treat disease-causing bacteria ( Modi, Collins & Relman, 2014) . The host could be diagnosed through observation. After some time Ehrlich realized that the chemical compound could be synthesized helping in exerting its full potential within the host. This is the era where the antibiotics were used to cure diseases such as sexually transmitted infections like syphilis. The ‘golden era' in the history of antibiotics began when penicillin was introduced on the 1930s. In the 1940s, different classes of antibiotics were developed (Jose & Jha, 2016) . The different classes were used to cure different types of fungal infections.
What are the Significant Features of the Invention of Antibiotics?
The invention of antibiotics has brought about different significance to the world of medication and health care. Antibiotics have done more than just saving patients from bacterial infections. The medicine has helped in achieving more in both surgery and medicine. Another significance is that the patients who have been treated through chemotherapy use the antibiotics to prevent any fungal infection (Dharmapalan et al., 2015) . Before the invention of antibiotics, the lifespan of Americans used to be 54.4 years. Since its invention, the lifespan has improved to 80 years. This is because the antibiotics extend persons lifespan by changing the state of bacterial infection. The significant feature of the invention has been inspiring. At the same time, enthusiasm concerning the invention has been tampered by an incident of antibiotic resistance. However, the invention is still significant because healthcare providers have become much more cautious in medicine prescriptions.
What are Antibiotics made of and how was it built?
Antibiotics are made from a chemical compound that can get rid of any bacteria within another organism ( Modi, Collins & Relman, 2014) . They are derived from mould or bacteria which are considered toxic to other disease-causing bacteria. The bacteria are known as organic anti-ineffective agents in medical language. Antibiotics are built through three different processes. The first process is known as fermentation. The toxic microorganisms are grown in large scale inside containers with liquid catalysing the growth. The second process is known as semi-synthetic. Semi-synthetic is the bacteria produced combined with laboratory chemicals to maximize the antibiotics level. The final process is called synthetic (de Araújo et al., 2012) . The synthetic process applies to the antibiotics which are produced in the laboratory; not all antibiotics are produced by bacteria.
Conclusion
The discovery of antibiotics –penicillin –was a major medical breakthrough. Penicillin was the first effective antibiotics and was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1948. The drug is made from mould or bacteria known as organic anti-ineffective agents. This antibiotic was used to kill bacteria. Antibiotics were invented to slow down or destroy microorganisms. However, because of the adaptability of bacteria, which result in antibiotic resistance, antibiotics do not hold the same purpose and value today. The use of antibiotics have transformed modern medicine, and saved lives for many years. However, the use of antibiotics has evolved, and the drug is now used to cure other diseases, such as sexually transmitted diseases.
References
Agarwal, S., Yewale, V. N., & Dharmapalan, D. (2015). Antibiotics use and misuse in children: a knowledge, attitude and practice survey of parents in India. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research: JCDR , 9 (11), SC21.
D e Lima Procópio, R. E., da Silva, I. R., Martins, M. K., de Azevedo, J. L., & de Araújo, J. M. (2012). Antibiotics produced by Streptomyces. The Brazilian Journal of infectious diseases , 16 (5), 466-471.
Jose, P. A., & Jha, B. (2016). New dimensions of research on actinomycetes: the quest for next-generation antibiotics. Frontiers in microbiology , 7 , 1295.
Modi, S. R., Collins, J. J., & Relman, D. A. (2014). Antibiotics and the gut microbiota. The Journal of clinical investigation , 124 (10), 4212-4218.
Whiteman, H. (2014). Antibiotic resistance: How has it become a global threat to public health? [Online]. Retrieved from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/282357.php . Accessed 5 th August 2019.
Yazdankhah, S., Lassen, J., Midtvedt, T., & Solberg, C. O. (2013). The history of antibiotics. Tidsskrift for den Norske laegeforening: tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny raekke , 133 (23-24), 2502-2507.
Zaffiri, L., Gardner, J., & Toledo-Pereyra, L. H. (2012). History of antibiotics. From salvarsan to cephalosporins. Journal of Investigative Surgery , 25 (2), 67-77.
