Who discovered Penicillin?

Appeared in: AIIMS Raipur NO- 2019 (shift 3rd)

Explanation

Sir Alexander Fleming is credited with the discovery of penicillin in 1928.
His discovery was accidental; he noticed that a mold (Penicillium notatum) inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus bacteria on a culture plate.
This observation led to the isolation of the active substance, penicillin, which became the first widely effective antibiotic.
Fleming, along with Howard Florey and Ernst Chain who developed methods for mass production, was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1945 for this discovery.

Option A: Louis Pasteur is celebrated for developing pasteurization, the germ theory of disease, and vaccines for rabies and anthrax, not for discovering antibiotics.
Option B: Joseph Lister is known as the 'Father of Antiseptic Surgery' because he introduced the use of carbolic acid to sterilize surgical instruments and clean wounds.
Option D: Robert Koch was a founder of modern bacteriology who identified the specific causative agents of tuberculosis, cholera, and anthrax.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain History of Microbiology and Antibiotics as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
The discovery of penicillin was a turning point in medicine, transforming the treatment of bacterial infections and dramatically reducing mortality from diseases like pneumonia, syphilis, and wound infections.
Nurses are at the forefront of antibiotic administration and must understand the principles of antibiotic stewardship to combat the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.
What if? If penicillin had not been discovered, surgical procedures, childbirth, and treatment for common infections would carry a much higher risk of death, and modern medical practices like chemotherapy and organ transplants would be nearly impossible due to the high risk of infection.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of major historical figures in microbiology.
First, identify the key terms in the question: 'discovered' and 'Penicillin'.
Mentally review the major contributions of each scientist listed in the options.
Match the discovery (Penicillin) with the correct scientist (Alexander Fleming).
Eliminate the other options by recalling their distinct contributions (Pasteur - pasteurization/vaccines, Lister - antiseptic surgery, Koch - postulates/bacteriology).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Microbiology Essentials Sastry 4e Part 1 p. 26-28

E6 Microbiology Applied AnjuDhir 3e Part 1 p. 32-34

Practise the full AIIMS Raipur NO- 2019 (shift 3rd)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.