We frequently hear about the fight with antibiotic resistance, whether it’s in school, or on the news, etc. I attended this Rose Talk so I could learn more about the history of antibiotics, and I’m quite glad I did, as my wishes were sufficiently answered.

It all started in 1924 when Alexander Fleming had a cold while working with agar plates. Some of his mucus dropped onto an agar plate, and although this was a little gross, this accident led to the discovery of lysozyme. One of the most powerful natural antibacterial and antiviral compounds known to man, lysozyme has been used in foods and pharmaceuticals for over three decades as it naturally inhibits the growth of many spoilage organisms, increases a healthy shelf life and ensures food safety. It also boosts the immunity system.

Fleming also discovered the well-known penicillin in 1928 when he left agar plates out in his lab with a window open. Upon returning to his lab, he noticed that certain spots in the plates had mold growing around it, with no bacteria around the mold. This discovery was eloquently deemed to be called “mold juice” by Fleming, but is known as penicillin today.

In the talk, we learned more about the scaling up of penicillin production, and how it has affected the course of medical history. All in all, antibiotic resistance is inevitable, but there are ways that we can reduce its spread and effects. We must educate ourselves on when to use antibiotics and not use them so liberally.