penicillin
Bacteria-killing fungal derivative
Penicillin is an antibiotic derived from mold, the first of its kind to be widely used against bacterial infections.
Discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928 and developed for medical use in the 1940s, it revolutionized treatment of wounds, pneumonia, and sexually transmitted diseases.
The doctor prescribed penicillin for strep throat.
Some people are allergic to penicillin, which can cause severe reactions.
Penicillin's discoverer
- 1928A calendar year
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
- LondonEngland's capital city
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
observation · laboratory · mold spores · Nobel Prize · Oxford · World War II · mass production · scientific breakthrough
Antibiotic-producing fungal genus
- fungusSpore-bearing organism
- sporesAsexual reproductive bodies
- myceliumFungal filament network
- hyphaeFungal filamentous structures
fermentation · cultivation · blue-green · growth · biosynthesis · industrial production
Spherical bacteria in clusters
- streptococcusSpherical bacteria in chains
- pneumococcusBacteria causing lung infection
- spirocheteSpiral-shaped bacterium
- cell wallRigid cellular outer layer
lysis · bacterium · pathogen · syphilis · gonorrhea · strep throat · scarlet fever · rheumatic fever
Second global military conflict
- miracle drugRemarkably effective medication
- mass productionLarge-scale standardized fabrication
- wounded soldiersCombatants injured in battle
- PfizerGlobal medication and vaccine company
pharmaceutical industry · wartime medicine · rationing · sulfonamides · chemotherapy · clinical trials · life expectancy · public health
Severe systemic allergic reaction
- hypersensitivityExaggerated response to stimuli
- hivesRaised itchy skin reaction
- urticariaRaised itchy skin welts
- rashHeedless or skin irritation
angioedema · epinephrine · antihistamine · skin test · cross-reactivity · wheezing · bronchospasm · anaphylactic shock
Kills or inhibits germs
- broad-spectrumEffective across many varieties
- narrow-spectrumActing on limited range
- bactericidalAble to destroy microbes
- cephalosporinBeta-lactam antibiotic family
prescription · dosage · oral · intravenous · intramuscular · prophylaxis · therapeutic · spectrum
Syringe-delivered dose
- tabletFlat portable computing device
- capsuleEnclosed dose container
- syrupThick sugar liquid
- suspensionTemporary halt or exclusion
pharmacy · pharmacist · prescription · over-the-counter · drug interaction · side effects · compliance · infection treatment
Drug-resistant staph infection
- superbugTreatment-resistant pathogen
- plasmidSelf-replicating DNA circle
- overuseExcessive employment of something
- misuseImproper application
hospital-acquired · mutation · selective pressure · alternative therapy
Alexander Fleming
Penicillin's discoverer
- 1928A calendar year
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
- LondonEngland's capital city
contamination · observation · laboratory · mold spores · Nobel Prize · Oxford · World War II · mass production · scientific breakthrough · culture plate
Penicillium
Antibiotic-producing fungal genus
hyphae · fermentation · cultivation · blue-green · growth · biosynthesis · industrial production
staphylococcus
Spherical bacteria in clusters
- streptococcusSpherical bacteria in chains
- pneumococcusBacteria causing lung infection
- spirocheteSpiral-shaped bacterium
cell wall · lysis · bacterium · pathogen · syphilis · gonorrhea · strep throat · scarlet fever · rheumatic fever · endocarditis
World War II
Second global military conflict
- miracle drugRemarkably effective medication
- mass productionLarge-scale standardized fabrication
- wounded soldiersCombatants injured in battle
Pfizer · pharmaceutical industry · wartime medicine · rationing · sulfonamides · chemotherapy · clinical trials · life expectancy · public health
anaphylaxis
Severe systemic allergic reaction
- hypersensitivityExaggerated response to stimuli
- hivesRaised itchy skin reaction
- urticariaRaised itchy skin welts
rash · angioedema · epinephrine · antihistamine · skin test · cross-reactivity · wheezing · bronchospasm · anaphylactic shock · pruritus
antimicrobial
Kills or inhibits germs
- broad-spectrumEffective across many varieties
- narrow-spectrumActing on limited range
- bactericidalAble to destroy microbes
cephalosporin · prescription · dosage · oral · intravenous · intramuscular · prophylaxis · therapeutic · spectrum · resistance
injection
Syringe-delivered dose
suspension · pharmacy · pharmacist · prescription · over-the-counter · drug interaction · side effects · compliance · infection treatment · adult dose
MRSA
Drug-resistant staph infection
- superbugTreatment-resistant pathogen
- plasmidSelf-replicating DNA circle
- overuseExcessive employment of something
misuse · hospital-acquired · mutation · selective pressure · alternative therapy
- 1940sWWII, D-Day, Pearl Harbor, Normandy, VE Day
- allergenspeanuts, food allergens, shellfish, tree nuts, dairy
- Biology HistoryDarwin, Mendel, evolution, natural selection, cell theory
- antibioticsciprofloxacin, azithromycin, tetracycline, erythromycin, doxycycline
- Fleming's Discoverymold, antibiotics, petri dish
- Infection Treatmentsantibacterials, antifungals, antivirals, antiparasitics, antimalarials
penicillinantiviral
Agent blocking viral spread
antifungal · acyclovir · antiparasitic · remdesivir · fluconazole
- penicillin allergyImmune reaction to specific antibiotic
- Jewish penicillinCurative poultry broth
- penicillin treatmentTherapy using mold-derived antibacterial