Changes

In 1940, the ''New York Times'' hailed the arrival of

In 1940, the ''New York Times'' hailed the arrival of

:A new wonder-working chemical named sulfathiazole, the latest "relative" of the sulfanilimide group of "magic bullets," which promises to become the greatest weapon against a host of deadly bacterial infections for which no effective measures existed until now.<ref>Laurence, William L. (1940), "New 'Sulfa' Drug Widens Germ War," ''The New York Times,'' April 4, 1940, p. 19</ref>

:A new wonder-working chemical named sulfathiazole, the latest "relative" of the sulfanilimide group of "magic bullets," which promises to become the greatest weapon against a host of deadly bacterial infections for which no effective measures existed until now.<ref>Laurence, William L. (1940), "New 'Sulfa' Drug Widens Germ War," ''The New York Times,'' April 4, 1940, p. 19</ref>

After World War II, the sulfa drugs were followed by the first of the antibiotics, [[penicillin]] and [[streptomycin]]. The revolutionary impact of these drugs cannot be overstated. Previously there had been an obsession with the threat of germs<ref>[http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/doc_WTX026108.html The history of antibiotics], Robert Bud, 2005, The Wellcome Trust</ref> because infections, once contracted, were often fatal. With the sulfa drugs and antibotics, for the first time in human history, serious bacterial diseases could be cured promptly and effectively. The phrases "wonder drug" and "miracle drug" were widely used. As early as 1952, however, the Times was reporting that "physicians said today that more bacteria were developing more resistance to 'wonder drugs.'"<ref>"Increased Resistance To 'Wonder Drugs' Seen", United Press, ''The New York Times,'' October 22, 1952, p. 22</ref>

After World War II, the sulfa drugs were followed by the first of the antibiotics, [[penicillin]] and [[streptomycin]]. The revolutionary impact of these drugs cannot be overstated. Previously there had been an obsession with the threat of germs<ref>[http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/doc_WTX026108.html The history of antibiotics], Robert Bud, 2005, The Wellcome Trust</ref> because infections, once contracted, were often fatal. With the sulfa drugs and antibotics, for the first time in human history, serious bacterial diseases could be cured promptly and effectively. The phrases "wonder drug" and "miracle drug" were widely used.  

 

But pencillin-resistant microbes started to appear in 1947, Just four years after it entered widespread use.<ref>[http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/795_antibio.html The Rise of Antibiotic-Resistant Infections], FDA website</ref> By 1952 the ''Times'' was reporting that "more bacteria [are] developing more resistance to 'wonder drugs.'"<ref>"Increased Resistance To 'Wonder Drugs' Seen", United Press, ''The New York Times,'' October 22, 1952, p. 22</ref>

Bacteriologists soon found that E. coli grown in media containing streptomycin not only produced strains capable of resisting streptomycin, they actually in some cases developed strains that thrived on it and ''required'' it for growth.

Bacteriologists soon found that E. coli grown in media containing streptomycin not only produced strains capable of resisting streptomycin, they actually in some cases developed strains that thrived on it and ''required'' it for growth.