Landmark medicine - Insulin

The following information shared is for general reference and discussion only, therefore should not be considered medical advice.

Definitions

Impact

remains widely used to this day
treats numerous infections that were once severe or even fatal before its discovery
led to the development of other antibiotics
enabled a deeper understanding of bacterial structures

While penicillin and other antibiotics were once miracle drugs, they are no longer the go-solution for all infections. You might be wondering… why?

Sometimes our immune system becomes hypersensitive to the drug- it will mistaken penicillin as a harmful substance or as an infection.

Allergic reactions: Ranging from mild (rashes, hives) to severe and life-threatening ones (anaphylaxis)
Gastrointestinal issues: Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
Neurological effects: (rare) Seizures from high doses

Sometimes bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics, including penicillin. You may be wondering, how does that develop?

Genetic mutations of bacteria: Changes affect the effectiveness of penicillin
Gene transfer of bacteria: Bacteria can share resistance genes through plasmids
(DNA molecule), causing the rapid spread of resistance
Alteration of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs): Genetic mutations of bacteria change the binding sites where penicillin attaches to the PBPs, causing difficulty for the antibiotic to inhibit PBPs

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