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Review
. 2024 Oct 17;16(10):e71689.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.71689. eCollection 2024 Oct.

Pioneering Hand Hygiene: Ignaz Semmelweis and the Fight Against Puerperal Fever

Sheuli Paul  1 , Shradha Salunkhe  1 , Kasireddy Sravanthi  1 , Shailaja V Mane  1
Affiliations
Review

Pioneering Hand Hygiene: Ignaz Semmelweis and the Fight Against Puerperal Fever

Sheuli Paul et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweis (1818-1865) revolutionized medical practice through his introduction of antiseptic procedures. This breakthrough disrupted the chain of infection among new mothers and their infants, leading to dramatically reduced mortality rates from puerperal fever across continental Europe. Semmelweis faced significant resistance and disbelief when he argued through meticulous, empirically-based evidence that proper hand hygiene may prevent infection. Semmelweis' pioneering work on infection prevention remains highly relevant even today, as evidenced by contemporary practices aimed at controlling the spread of disease and improving patient safety through improved hygiene. In this article, we look into the key moments in Semmelweis's life that led to his revolutionary discoveries as well as oppositions against them and his lasting impact on modern medicine.

Keywords: antiseptic procedures; chlorinated lime; germ theory; hand hygiene; historical vignette; ignaz semmelweis; infection control; maternal mortality; medical innovation; puerperal fever.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Ignaz Semmelweis (1860) aged 42 years
Unknown author/wikimedia commons: public domain
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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