Which antibiotic is famously known as the first discovered?

Penicillin is famously recognized as the first discovered antibiotic, marking a significant milestone in medical history. It was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928 when he noticed that a mold called Penicillium notatum produced a substance that inhibited the growth of bacteria. This discovery led to the development of penicillin as a treatment for bacterial infections, revolutionizing medicine by providing an effective means to combat previously lethal diseases.

While other antibiotics like amoxicillin, tetracycline, and erythromycin have since been developed and are important in their own right, they were discovered later and built upon the groundwork laid by penicillin. The significance of penicillin lies not only in its early discovery but also in its ability to change the course of medical treatment and its role in saving countless lives.