When did Fleming first discover and publish his penicillin findings?

When did Fleming first discover and publish his penicillin findings?

• A. 1939
• B. 1929
• C. 1918
• D. 1945

Answer: (B)

The key idea is the timeline of when penicillin was first reported. Fleming saw that a mold contaminating a Staphylococcus plate inhibited bacterial growth, which marked the initial discovery in 1928. He then published his findings in 1929, presenting penicillin as the first antibiotic. That publication date is what the question is asking for, so 1929 is the best answer. The other years don’t fit the initial discovery/publication event: 1918 is just before the discovery, 1939 is later work but not the first report, and 1945 refers to the era when penicillin began to be used widely after further development.

The key idea is the timeline of when penicillin was first reported. Fleming saw that a mold contaminating a Staphylococcus plate inhibited bacterial growth, which marked the initial discovery in 1928. He then published his findings in 1929, presenting penicillin as the first antibiotic. That publication date is what the question is asking for, so 1929 is the best answer. The other years don’t fit the initial discovery/publication event: 1918 is just before the discovery, 1939 is later work but not the first report, and 1945 refers to the era when penicillin began to be used widely after further development.