antibiotic etymology

Origin:

• Late Latin "antibioticus," from Greek "antibiotikos"
• "anti-" (against) + "biotikos" (pertaining to life)

Meaning:

• "Against life" or "life-destroying"

Etymology and History:

The term "antibiotic" was first used in the 1930s to describe substances that hindered the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms. The concept was introduced in 1899 by Italian physician Bartolomeo Gosio, who observed that extracts from the mold Penicillium notatum had an inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus bacteria.

In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered the antibacterial properties of penicillin, and in 1940, Howard Florey and Ernst Chain developed penicillin into the first practical antibiotic drug. Since then, numerous other antibiotics have been discovered and developed.

The word "antibiotic" originally referred specifically to substances produced by microorganisms, but it has since been expanded to include synthetic compounds with similar effects. Antibiotics are essential in modern medicine for treating bacterial infections and preventing their spread.

antibiotic relate terms

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