Infectious Diseases A-Z: The fight against antibiotic resistance

Antibiotics have been credited to saving countless lives. Penicillin, discovered in 1928 by Sir Alexander Fleming, is recognized as one of the greatest advances in therapeutic medicine. The life-saving drug was first mass produced in the U.S. during World War II, and helped launch the golden era of antibiotics. Today, medical researchers have a concern about these medications: overuse and misuse of antibiotics, leading to antibiotic resistance. Mayo Clinic pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse says antibiotic resistance is a serious public health threat.