01 / The world before
Many bacterial infections had few effective treatments.
02 / The discovery
Fleming observed penicillin’s antibacterial effect in 1928. Florey, Chain and colleagues turned it toward practical treatment.
03 / The people
Alexander Fleming, Howard Florey, Ernst Chain and a larger research and production effort.
04 / The obstacles
Purification and mass production were major challenges.
05 / The world after
Antibiotics transformed treatment of bacterial infections.
06 / Why it still matters
Resistance makes careful use and further research essential.