Title: Antibiotics - humans, body, used, life, form, cells, effects, change
Headings: Antibiotics
Antibiotics
History of antibiotics
Words to Know
The search for other antibiotics
Resistance to antibiotics

Content: History of antibiotics
Sulfa drugs. Sulfa drugs, originally developed for use in the dye industry, were the  first effective drugs used to fight bacterial infection in humans. Prontosil, the first sulfa drug, was discovered in 1935 by German chemist  Gerhard Domagk (1895–1964). Also called sulfonamides (pronounced  sul-FOHN-uh-midze), these drugs are synthesized (made) in the laboratory  from a crystalline compound called sulfanilamide (pronounced  sul-fuh-NILL-uh-mide). They work by blocking the growth and multiplication  of bacteria and were initially effective against a broad range of  bacteria. However, many strains of bacteria have developed a resistance to  sulfa drugs. Resistance occurs when some bacteria survive attack by the  antibacterial drug and change in such a way that they are no longer  affected by the drug's action. Sulfa drugs are most commonly used today in the treatment of urinary tract  infections. The drugs are usually taken by mouth, but other forms include  creams that can be applied to burn wounds to prevent infection and  ointments and drops used for eye infections. Words to Know
Antibacterial: