TED-ED: The accident that changed the world - Allison Ramsey and Mary Staicu

In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, a groundbreaking antibiotic, when mold spores landed on a petri dish and killed surrounding bacteria. Penicillin disrupts bacterial cell wall synthesis, making it lethal to many bacteria but harmless to human cells. Initially a lab curiosity, it became widely used during WWII after researchers isolated and mass-produced it, earning a Nobel Prize. However, overuse has led to antibiotic resistance. Additionally, many people mistakenly believe they are allergic to penicillin, though true allergies are rare and often outgrown.

What percentage of people who think they are allergic to penicillin actually are not?

What should individuals do if they suspect they have a penicillin allergy?