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'''Ignaz Semmelweis''' (1818-1865) was a 19th century physician  best remembered for his contributions in combating "childbed fever", using modern [[scientific method]]s and [[statistics]].

'''Ignaz Semmelweis''' (1818-1865) was a 19th century physician  best remembered for his contributions in combating "childbed fever", using modern [[scientific method]]s and [[statistics]].

* In 1847, Dr. Ignaz Semmelweiss, a physician in a Vienna hospital, discovered that fatal infections were spread among patients by doctors who failed to wash their hands between examinations. Semmelweiss immediately instituted a disinfecting procedure whereby physicians were required to wash in a chloride of lime solution after autopsies and with soap and water between patient visits. Doctors also had to change into clean lab coats before examining patients. As a result, hospital mortality rates from infectious diseases declined. [http://www.waterandhealth.org/newsletter/new/feb-1998/right.html]

* In 1847, Dr. Ignaz Semmelweiss, a physician in a Vienna hospital, discovered that fatal [[infection]]s were spread among patients by doctors who failed to wash their hands between examinations. Semmelweiss immediately instituted a disinfecting procedure whereby physicians were required to wash in a chloride of lime solution after autopsies and with soap and water between patient visits. Doctors also had to change into clean lab coats before examining patients. As a result, hospital [[mortality rate]]s from infectious diseases declined. [http://www.waterandhealth.org/newsletter/new/feb-1998/right.html]

* It would take another twenty years before Louis Pasteur proposed a germ theory of disease that provided a theoretical framework for Semmelweiss' claims. Joseph Lister, inspired by Pasteur and Semmelweiss (among others), launched a new era of antiseptic practice that revolutionized medicine. Ignaz Semmelweiss was belatedly recognized as a medical pioneer ... [http://drvitelli.typepad.com/providentia/2009/01/the-semmelweiss-mystery.html]

* It would take another twenty years before [[Louis Pasteur]] proposed a [[germ theory of disease]] that provided a theoretical framework for Semmelweiss' claims. Joseph Lister, inspired by Pasteur and Semmelweiss (among others), launched a new era of [[antiseptic]] practice that revolutionized medicine. Ignaz Semmelweiss was belatedly recognized as a medical pioneer ... [http://drvitelli.typepad.com/providentia/2009/01/the-semmelweiss-mystery.html]

==Background==

==Background==