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| Family to tell first penicillin patient's story at conference | Family to tell first penicillin patient's story at conference |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Mr Alexander was injured in the Blitz in Southampton during World War Two. | Mr Alexander was injured in the Blitz in Southampton during World War Two. |
| The family of the first patient to be treated with penicillin hope his story will inspire pharmaceutical companies to develop new life-saving antibiotics. | The family of the first patient to be treated with penicillin hope his story will inspire pharmaceutical companies to develop new life-saving antibiotics. |
| Albert Alexander, who was born in Woodley, Berkshire, was treated with penicillin in Oxford in 1941, demonstrating its beneficial effects. | Albert Alexander, who was born in Woodley, Berkshire, was treated with penicillin in Oxford in 1941, demonstrating its beneficial effects. |
| He was injured when serving as a police officer during World War Two. | He was injured when serving as a police officer during World War Two. |
| His 89-year-old daughter is due to join antibiotic experts at a conference in Glasgow to tell her ancestor's story. | His 89-year-old daughter is due to join antibiotic experts at a conference in Glasgow to tell her ancestor's story. |
| Albert Alexander's family said it had been an emotional journey to his home village | |
| Sheila LeBlanc, along with Mr Alexander's two granddaughters, will attend the World Congress of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology in the Scottish city on Monday. | Sheila LeBlanc, along with Mr Alexander's two granddaughters, will attend the World Congress of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology in the Scottish city on Monday. |
| They travelled from their hometown Redlands, in California, to take part in the event. | They travelled from their hometown Redlands, in California, to take part in the event. |
| On a visit to the graveyard in Newbury in which he is buried, they described the journey as "overwhelming". | |
| Granddaughter Linda Willason said "There is really no words - the whole fact we got to come over here, bring [Sheila] and do all this - we're very grateful. | |
| "I think we all take it all for granted - you get sick, you go to the hospital, you get an injection. But this is getting serious now and really something that needs dealt with." | |
| The event follows previous research published in 2022 revealing that more than 1.2 million people died worldwide in 2019 from infections caused by bacteria resistant to antibiotics. | The event follows previous research published in 2022 revealing that more than 1.2 million people died worldwide in 2019 from infections caused by bacteria resistant to antibiotics. |
| UK health officials previously warned antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was a "hidden pandemic" that could emerge in the wake of Covid-19 unless antibiotics were prescribed responsibly. | UK health officials previously warned antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was a "hidden pandemic" that could emerge in the wake of Covid-19 unless antibiotics were prescribed responsibly. |
| Sir Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 at St Mary's Hospital in London, but scientists in Oxford developed it into a viable drug. | Sir Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 at St Mary's Hospital in London, but scientists in Oxford developed it into a viable drug. |
| Mr Alexander, who was a police officer, was on duty when he was injured in an air raid in Southampton and developed blood poisoning. | Mr Alexander, who was a police officer, was on duty when he was injured in an air raid in Southampton and developed blood poisoning. |
| Sir Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 | |
| He was transferred to Oxford's Radcliffe Infirmary, where he was treated with the newly-discovered antibiotic, and showed immediate improvement. | He was transferred to Oxford's Radcliffe Infirmary, where he was treated with the newly-discovered antibiotic, and showed immediate improvement. |
| But penicillin could not be isolated in time to complete the cure and he died on 15 March 1941. | But penicillin could not be isolated in time to complete the cure and he died on 15 March 1941. |
| However, the episode proved penicillin worked on humans and many other people who were injured during the war in the following years benefitted from the antibiotic. | However, the episode proved penicillin worked on humans and many other people who were injured during the war in the following years benefitted from the antibiotic. |
| Professor Michael Barrett, a microbiologist at the University of Glasgow, said when looking at the impact of penicillin on the war "timing was everything". | Professor Michael Barrett, a microbiologist at the University of Glasgow, said when looking at the impact of penicillin on the war "timing was everything". |
| He added: "By having Albert there in that condition to treat at that time and to show the potential to work we probably shaved a year off the Second World War." | He added: "By having Albert there in that condition to treat at that time and to show the potential to work we probably shaved a year off the Second World War." |
| But professor Barrett has said there is currently not enough investment into new antibiotics and he has warned that this could lead to a potential crisis. | But professor Barrett has said there is currently not enough investment into new antibiotics and he has warned that this could lead to a potential crisis. |
| He will join Mr Alexander's family at the conference in Glasgow. | He will join Mr Alexander's family at the conference in Glasgow. |
| Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Antibiotics | Antibiotics |
| The Blitz | The Blitz |
| Southampton | Southampton |
| Oxford | Oxford |
| Drug resistance | Drug resistance |
| World War Two | World War Two |