The history of penicillin

We know the role of Noble laureate Sir Alexander Fleming in the discovery of Penicillin. But who is the first patient to receive Penicillin for treatment?


Synthetic Production of Penicillin TR1468.jpg

It was Albert Alexander who was a constable in the county of Oxford, London. He was accidentally injured with a rose thorn. The wound was infected with Staphylococci and Streptococci and his condition became very serious. His head was covered with abscess and his eye was removed. Still he faced the risk of death.

Howard Walter Florey 1945.jpg
Howard Walter Florey

He was treated by Dr Howard Walter Florey. The clinical application of Penicillin was tested only in mice and they haven't tried a human volunteer. Due to the terminal illness of Albert Alexander, they decided to try Penicillin on him. 

Albert was given with 160mg of IV dose of Penicillin. He recovered well. But due to war time restrictions, they could not synthesis enough quantities of Penicillin. But the team successfully isolated Penicillin from the urine of Albert and given successfully for four consecutive days. But, they run out on the fifth day.Albert Alexander died on 15th March 1941.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Alexander
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWHq2m_Hwhw


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