Body Quote by Alexander Fleming
“It is not difficult to make microbes resistant to penicillin in the laboratory by exposing them to concentrations not sufficient to kill them, and the same thing has occasionally happened in the body. The time may come when penicillin can be bought by anyone in the shops. Then there is the danger that the ignorant man may easily underdose himself and by exposing his microbes to non-lethal quantities of the drug make them resistant.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Lecture on antibiotic resistance, 1945
Overusing low doses of antibiotics encourages microbes to develop resistance, a risk both in labs and in public use.
In simple terms: Low antibiotic doses can cause resistance.
Key Takeaway
Use correct dosages; avoid sub‑therapeutic exposure.
Themes
medicine
public health
resistance
responsibility
Mood
concerned
urgent
Type
cautionary
educational
When to use this quote
- hospital prescribing
- over‑the‑counter sales
- patient self‑medication
- agricultural use
Key Concepts
antibiotic stewardship
microbial evolution
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we ensure affordable access to full antibiotic courses?
- What policies reduce self‑medication risks?
A Different Perspective
If people cannot afford full courses, they may still underdose, fostering resistance.
![“I doubt that Fleming could have obtained a grant for the discovery of penicillin on that basis [a requirement for highly detailed research plans] because he could not have said, 'I propose to have an accident in a culture so that it will be spoiled by a mould falling on it, and I propose to…” quote by Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9a8/hans-selye-17189_accidents_i-doubt-that-fleming-could-have-obtained_1394880.jpg)
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