In the late 19th century, a Russian physician named Ignaz Semmelweis made an interesting observation about how doctors and nurses washed their hands before performing surgery on patients.
Table of Contents
While doctors routinely washed their hands before treating patients, it was not uncommon for nurses to go directly from carrying the body of one deceased patient to another without washing their hands in between.
History of Germ Theory of Disease
Germ theory has come to represent the idea that germs cause disease. However, it didn’t start as a scientific idea but was invented by Ignaz Semmelweis.
At first, he had difficulty convincing doctors and scientists about his hypothesis.
Still, eventually, he won people over by demonstrating that fewer women died from puerperal fever when physicians washed their hands with chlorinated lime before performing an autopsy or performing a vaginal examination on a woman in labor.
Unfortunately for Semmelweis, this took place in 1847, before there was any knowledge of bacteria or epidemiology, and so there was little change at first other than this new rule that physicians needed to wash their hands before they did anything else.
It wasn’t until Louis Pasteur discovered that microbes caused fermentation and putrefaction in 1870 that some progress was made in treating illnesses because now there was a name for what doctors were fighting against.
Germ Theory Of Disease
The germ theory of disease states that many diseases are caused by germs, such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, or fungi.
The germ theory of disease states that some diseases are caused by invasions into the body by microorganisms, organisms that are too small to see without using a microscope.
The germ theory is a foundational medical principle that states that microorganisms, which are too small to be seen without the use of a microscope, may invade the body and cause some diseases.
Before the germ theory of disease was accepted, the miasma theory was common, which stated the illness was caused by the decomposition of organic matter, releasing toxic air carrying the agents causing disease.
The miasma theory states that diseases arise from the decomposition of organic matter, which produces toxic air carrying disease-causing agents.
Louis Pasteur was the first to demonstrate that diseases were caused by germs in the environment, not the air itself, as proposed by the prevailing theories at the time (Miasma Theory).
The French chemist, Louis Pasteur’s work followed earlier demonstrations, by himself as well as amateur microscopist Agostino Bassi, that the disease of the silkworm could be caused by microorganisms.
Agostino Bassi (1773-1856) work served as a source of influence for Louis Pasteur, who was accredited with the germ theory of disease after his experiments demonstrated a link between microorganisms and diseases.
Building upon Louis Pasteurs earlier work and germ theory of disease, Robert Koch established basic scientific requirements used to prove each particular disease is caused by a particular microorganism.
Each particular disease is caused by a particular microorganism. Robert Koch’s postulates, demonstrating both that specific germs cause specific diseases and that the germs of diseases transfer diseases from the body to body, are foundational to Germ theory.
Germ theory requires new social consciousness, not just about germs as causes of diseases, but about how germs are transmitted from one body to the next.
The fight resulted in the decrease in the spread of diseases within hospitals and communities, as well as in the development of techniques to recognize organisms that,
for years, were thought to exist only in the imaginations of those researchers and physicians who were fighting to establish the germ theory.
Eventually, the Golden Age of Bacteriology followed, during which germ theories of the disease rapidly led to the identification of actual organisms causing many diseases.
Later, the debates over germ’s role in diseases would be analogous; it would take years to demonstrate that germs found in sick individuals’ bodies were the cause of their illnesses rather than a consequence.
Although germ theories about the disease, first proposed by Girolamo Fracastoro, had yet to gain complete development or wide currency, John Snow demonstrated an acute awareness of germ theories in his work.
The miasma theory was the dominant theory for the transmission of diseases until the germ theory of disease took root in the late 19th century; the miasma theory is no longer accepted as a valid explanation of diseases by the scientific community.
Why it Matters Today
The germ theory of disease changed everything. It led to clean water, vaccinations, hand washing, sterilization, and other discoveries that still lead to healthier lives today.
With so many advancements in modern medicine, we may have forgotten how much this change has impacted our day-to-day lives.
But it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate the history behind it all. And not just because it is interesting.
The repercussions of these changes are still with us Today. When they first discovered the existence of germs, doctors were more concerned with how to get rid of them than learning about their specific effects on people
(the research community was far too small at that time).
However, as they started looking into the types of germs and how they related to different diseases, they found some connections between germs and illness.
They began to understand what made certain people more susceptible than others to getting sick when exposed to certain bacteria or viruses –
like infants who can’t be vaccinated for illnesses like polio or measles until after age one or those who are immunocompromised by conditions like cancer treatment or HIV/AIDS.
Key Points about The Germ Theory of Disease
-The germ theory of disease was created in 1796 by a doctor named Ignaz Semmelweis.
He noticed that the number of women who died during childbirth was higher for those attended by doctors, who sometimes came to work with dirty hands from doing an autopsy.
-In 1847, Louis Pasteur used germ theory to create a pasteurized drink called milk that prevented people from getting sick because it was boiled and had time to kill any germs before it was consumed.
-While these are very important concepts, it wasn’t until Robert Koch discovered germs were behind many illnesses and could be identified under the microscope that the impact on society truly began.
-Through his experiments, he determined there were four categories of microorganisms that cause diseases: bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa.
-After examining various aspects of different diseases like cholera or tuberculosis, he found all organisms fall into one of these four categories.
-Koch’s discovery led to the use of antibacterial soap, which we still use today when hand washing is necessary.
Takeaways from this knowledge of germ theory of disease
*Theory: The germ theory of disease explains how disease-causing microorganisms (germs) are able to cause illness in the human body.
*Origin: Many scientists came up with the idea that diseases came from germs and released them at about the same time.
*Microorganisms: Microorganisms are tiny living things like bacteria, fungi, protozoa, or microscopic animals that are too small to see without a microscope.
There’s only one problem with those pesky germs—our bodies work hard to keep them out by way of our skin and various bodily fluids.
*Illnesses Caused by Germs: Different microorganisms can make you sick in different ways, depending on where they wind up in your body.
Also Read: Parallel universe theory
