Prontosil

An overview of the history behind the development of sulfa antibiotics, starting with Prontosil, is presented. Prontosil was initially developed by Gerhard Domagk, working in the Bayer sector of I. G. Farbenindustrie, in 1927. There was huge growth in their use during World War 2, when they were issued to American soldiers as part of a first aid pack. With the advent of penicillin in the1950s, their popularity waned, and today their use is limited; the main use being as a treatment for urinary tract infections.