3D model of penicillin.
Created by Michael Ströck and released under the GFDL
An antibiotic agent derived from a mold of the genus Penicillium. The first antibiotic to be discovered (by Alexander Fleming in 1928), it was later developed in a soluble form and can now be produced synthetically. It is effective in combating a wide range of bacterial infections. It can produce allergic reactions, including itching and (rarely) potentially fatal shock. Because some microorganisms have become resistant to its action, other antibiotics are often used instead.
