Acting against Staphylococcus bacteria, which commonly cause infections ranging from minor skin wounds to serious diseases like pneumonia.
From anti- + staphylococcic (relating to staphylococcus). Staphylococcus comes from Greek staphyle (bunch of grapes) + kokkos (grain), because the bacteria cluster like grape bunches under microscopes.
Penicillin was discovered by accident when Alexander Fleming noticed a mold had created an antistaphylococcic zone around itself—this chance observation revolutionized medicine and launched the antibiotic age that saved hundreds of millions of lives.
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