A2 _ Aseptic techniques (History)
1.2 Historical Development of Aseptic Techniques The discovery of aseptic techniques in microbiology marked a significant milestone in the development of modern medicine and laboratory science. These techniques, designed to minimize contamination and ensure sterile conditions, emerged from the collective contributions of various scientists and medical practitioners in the 19th century. One of the earliest pioneers was Ignaz Semmelweis, a Hungarian physician who, in the 1840s, recognized that the spread of puerperal fever (a fatal infection among childbirth patients) could be reduced by HANDWASHING with chlorinated lime. His observations demonstrated that infections could be prevented through aseptic practices. However, the broader adoption of aseptic techniques is attributed to Joseph Lister , a British surgeon, who is often regarded as the " Father of Antiseptic Surgery ." In the 1860s, Lister applied Louis Pasteur's germ theory of disease to surgical practices. H...