Penicillin Slinn, Judy. (2009). \"Penicillin:

Penicillin

Slinn, Judy. (2009). "Penicillin: Triumph and Tragedy. -- Review of Robert Bud

Book." Medical History. 53 (1): 2009. 133.

Penicillin is a group of antibiotics (the "cillin" group) based on the Penicullium fungi. They are historically and culturally significant because they are the first antibiotics that were effective against numerous diseases that plagued humans for thousands of years (syphilis, staph, etc.). Particularly in the developing world, the cillin group is still widely used -- they are inexpensive, fairly effective, and typically well tolerated. However, there are a number of individuals who, for whatever reason, have developed a resistance to penicillin -- whether that be an allergic reaction or sensitivity. In addition, some say because of overuse, many types of bacteria are now resistant to penicillin (Bellis, 2010).

Like other Beta Lactam antibiotics, penicillin works by inhibiting a peptid that links on the cell wall of a bacteria, which weakens the bacteria cell and causes it to die due to osmotic pressure. The reason penicillin is so much more effective with gram-positive bacteria is this very action; gram-negative bacteria do not lose their cell walls as completely, and therefore the numbers tend not to die off as quickly. The cillans also block the division of bacteria and of the cyanelles, which explains the need for a loading dose to occur before many symptoms disappear (Silverthorn, 2004).

Although up to 20% of people sometimes believe they have an allergy to penicillin, actual numbers are far less, but can be quite serious. It is, nevertheless one of the most important medical innovations ever produced, saving countless lives, particularly in war or trauma situations. In addition, according to Slinn, the aura surrounding penicillin was one of scientific methodology and inquiry. Modern society does not realize what it means to find something that could act against infection -- but then acted accordingly and began to overprescribe the drug for issues with marginal effect -- "which led directly to the growth and spread of bacteria resistant to antibiotics."

Really, in a dual nature, the story of penicillin is a juxtaposition of what medical science can do, and then in turn what happens when that medical innovation changes the way society works. The promulgation of penicillin, for instance, is part of the story of the 1950s. America, fresh out of a World War and looking towards technology to save humanity -- the Atomic bomb, the Age of Plastics, new innovations for the kitchen, and then turning towards science to provide the fundamental answers that change and shape society.

Additionally, the story of penicillin is the story of economics. Once the synthesis of the cillians occurred, the larger pharmacological industry needed millions of dollars to produce the drug to the level needed. This author, in fact, believes that the cost of penicillin had a negative effect on the fall of the British Labour Party in the mid-1950s. The real tragedy, though, is that due to the overuse of the cillans, modern culture has actually changed the evolutionary nature of bacteria. The resistant strains now have a life of their own, and even though medical science continues to struggle against their ravages, their development at the micro level may have effects that we can only guess.