Did Alexander Fleming have rivals

Yes, Alexander Fleming had rivals in the field of microbiology and medicine, particularly during the early development of penicillin. Notably, Howard Florey and Ernst Boris Chain were his contemporaries who played crucial roles in the mass production and clinical application of penicillin, often leading to competition for recognition in the discovery's impact. Additionally, other researchers in the field were also exploring antibiotics and bacterial resistance, contributing to a competitive scientific environment.