(August 2004) The discovery of penicillin in 1929 by Alexander Fleming was a milestone in modern medicine [1]. In 1943, the industrial-scale production of penicillin enabled its widespread use and ushered in the beginning of the “antibiotic era.” The availability of antibiotics has had profound effects on human health and has contributed to an eight-year increase in the average human lifespan [2]. The availability of antibiotics has allowed for the successful treatment of many bacterial infections as well as the ability to perform invasive medical procedures including surgery and chemotherapy [3]. Throughout the years, however, many bacterial strains have evolved…