Vincenzo Tiberio (1869–1915) and the dawn of the antibiotic age

By mid-1944, penicillin was produced in quantities sufficient to treat thousands of Allied soldiers and distributed to military hospitals, where it dramatically reduced mortality from wound infections, pneumonia, and venereal diseases such as syphilis and gonorrhea.

“By mid-1944, in time for the D-Day invasion of Normandy, penicillin was being produced in quantities sufficient to treat thousands of Allied soldiers. It was distributed to military hospitals across Europe and the Pacific, where it dramatically reduced mortality from wound infections, pneumonia, and venereal diseases such as syphilis and gonorrhea [7] (Fig. 5).”

Tiberio's observations anticipated the discovery of penicillin by several decades and demonstrated a scientific approach remarkably consistent with the principles of evidence-based medicine.

“His observations not only anticipated the discovery of penicillin by several decades but also demonstrated a scientific approach remarkably consistent with the principles of evidence-based medicine.”

Modern historians and microbiologists now recognize Tiberio as a crucial but long-overlooked figure in the pre-history of antibiotics.

“Modern historians and microbiologists now recognize Tiberio as a crucial but long-overlooked figure in the pre-history of antibiotics.”

Tiberio's work was rediscovered in the 20th century by Giuseppe Pezzi and others, earning him overdue recognition in the history of penicillin.

“Largely ignored by Italy’s scientific community [5], his work was rediscovered in the 20th century by Giuseppe Pezzi and others [6, 7], earning him overdue recognition in the history of penicillin.”