The 100 years of the twentieth
century is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable and momentous points in time.
A wide variety and range of technological advancements, scientific explorations
as well as inventions came to be. An important contribution of this glorious
century is antibiotics. When it was introduced, it was deemed by the people as “the
miracle of modern medicine”.
This experimental
breakthrough continues to enhance the essence of human life up to today.
Pathogens are microorganisms that
can cause numerous diseases. Examples include bacteria and viruses. These could
be found everywhere. Bacteria release toxins; viruses damage cells, making
these harmful to a person’s body. Antibiotics, which are sub-categorized into
groups of antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic are medications
taken. It exhausts or decelerates the growth and development of bacteria. As
mentioned by the United States National Library of Medicine, these kinds of
medical care could save lives. An antibiotic is a chemical substance produced by one organism that is
detrimental to another. It has been said that antibiotics are one of the most
effective and powerful cures against fatal diseases hence; it has a substantial value in the
present society.
In the year 1928, Sir Alexander
Fleming, a Scottish scientist who had a reputation of being quite untidy and careless,
was experimenting with the influenza virus in his laboratory located at St.
Mary’s Hospital in London. Accordingly, he had left for vacation and after two
weeks had returned to find that a mold had matured on an accidentally
contaminated staphylococcus culture plate. This “accident” had led to the discovery
of penicillin and influenced the further evolution of antibiotics for medicinal
use.
During the World War II,
Penicillin aided the people, lessening the number of deaths and amputations of
the troops. Up to date, it is the most used antibiotic. It has several types which
are used in the healing or prevention of many different bacterial infections
which are usually caused by Gram-positive organisms. Ampicillin, amoxicillin, and phenoxymethyl penicillin
are constituents. In the midst of 1944 and 1972, Antibiotics could be given
credit to, for the increase of human life expectancy. It was raised, given an additional
eight years.
Pneumonia, an infection of the
lungs caused by pathogens, which is generally distinguished by the inflammation
of the alveoli in the lungs, caused a great distress during the period of
1930-1940. Once discerned as the “Captain of the Men of Death” by a Canadian physician
named William Osler, pneumonia was pre-eminently the cause of death and required
state supervision. However, this was before the establishment of antibiotics. Together
with control programs and the availability of drugs, antibiotics were able to
lessen the cases of the disease.
Antibiotics are very beneficial
in the aspect of health. It does not only save lives but it offers an extensive
barrier over disease. It outweighs all of the technological innovations of the
twentieth century such as the radio, the television, the internet and many
others. A life without antibiotics would be crucial due to the value of a
person’s life.
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