In 1929, microbiologist Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, a naturally growing substance that could destroy certain types of bacteria. Penicillin is a mould that disintegrates the cell walls of bacteria, and after years of testing on animals and humans scientists were able to use it in the form of a tablet or an injection on infected people. This new antibiotic was used widely on soldiers during World War 2, helping people suffering from pneumonia and wound infections, saving so many lives people called …show more content…
Over 80% of all antibiotics are given to farm animals, meaning that a mere 20% of antibiotics are used for treating human disease. During the mid 20th century antibiotics were harder to get access to because of manufacturing inefficiencies. During the period between 1940-2000 the effectiveness of antibiotics was very high with an increase in the average life expectancy in countries with access to the drug. From the year 2001 the effectiveness of the drug has dropped because of resistance in the bacteria caused by random mutations and becoming dominant because of natural selection. As a result we see people dying of once antibiotic treatable