Conduct a debate in class on the topic - 'Are antibiotics useful or harmful'?

Antibiotics are the chemical substance which can kill or retard the growth of other diseases causing microbes.

The first antibiotic was penicillin which was discovered by Alexander Fleming.

Alexander Fleming was working on staphylococcus bacteria. He observed the growth of mold around which the bacteria did not grow. He found that it was chemical penicillin which was produced by Penicillium notatum.

Ernst Chain and Howard Florey discovered the function of penicillin as an antibiotic. Alexander Fleming, Ernst Chain, and Howard Florey were awarded by the Nobel prize in 1945.

Regular use of antibiotics may cause side effects such as—

i. They may kill the useful bacteria.

ii. Develop immunity in the pathogens against antibiotic.

But still, antibiotic play an important role in improving our capacity by treating diseases such as plague, diphtheria, leprosy etc. They have greatly contributed towards the welfare of the human society. So we can say antibiotics are useful.