Penicillin

The discovery and development of penicillin was heavily influenced by a variety of factors. There were numerous factors that impacted both the discovery and development including war, government involvement, individual skill, teamwork, scientific method, technology, beliefs and attitudes, money and chance.

Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1929. This discovery depended on a number of key factors, specifically Fleming’s individual skills, WWI, his beliefs and attitude and an element of chance. These factors were particularly important because of their influence in Fleming’s field of work and scientific method.

During the First World War, Fleming served in the British Army’s medical corps and worked in military hospitals. He was often left to treat men who were not fatally wounded but still died from infection. This experience in war hugely contributed to the development of penicillin because of the influence it had over Fleming’s beliefs and attitudes. After working in military hospitals, Fleming became a Professor of Bacteriology and in his work, searched for a way to prevent the spread of infection. After being influenced by the war, his attitude towards the lack of knowledge about infection completely changed. He became determined to find a solution to these deadly infections.

While doing research on the flu, a combination of individual skill and chance led Fleming to discover the antibiotic penicillin. Fleming was known to be quite careless in his laboratory and after returning from a holiday, found that a bit of mould had fallen into a culture plate containing bacteria. This mould had killed off the bacteria around it, forming a clear patch. Fleming’s level of skill allowed him to recognise the importance of this observation and if anybody else had come across the dish, the importance of penicillin may never have been discovered. As well as this, it was simply chance that the laboratory provided the ideal conditions for the growth of bacteria and mould. Fleming recognised the potential benefits of using penicillin as an antibiotic but could not continue to develop it because he did not have the enough money, individual skill or support he needed to use it as a treatment for general infections.

Howard Florey and Ernst Chain were able to develop penicillin into a useful antibiotic because of a number of factors Fleming did not possess including government involvement, WWII, teamwork, individual skill, money, scientific method and chance.

Howard Florey’s first decision to recruit a team of scientists that were to work together on the development of penicillin was perhaps the most influential factor. By gathering a team of scientists he increased the level of experience, skill and scientific background into the development of this promising drug. Florey’s team consisted of individual members concentrating on the area in which they had the most knowledge. For example, Ernst Chain worked on purifying penicillin, a problem that Alexander Fleming encountered, with 2 other scientists. Using the individual skill of several experienced scientists in a team environment made the development of penicillin possible.

As well as individual skill and teamwork, money was also huge factor in the development of penicillin. After experiencing remarkably successful results the team needed drug companies to help it produce the large amounts required to test patients. Unfortunately, companies in Britain were unable to provide the financial help because of the Second World War had started and the production of medicine was in high demand. Against the wishes of Ernst Chain, Howard Florey travelled to America to explain the development of penicillin. This led to the funding that penicillin needed to be mass produced. This mass production meant that the effects of penicillin could be tested on more people. Without this vital funding and perhaps even the war and demand for effective treatments, the development of penicillin never would have been possible.