Antiseptics 1865 – The Birth of Sterilisation in Healthcare

In 1907, American physician Franklin C. Clark stated: “Three remarkable events characterise the history of medicine, each in turn revolutionising surgical practice.”

1. The first involved the use of ligatures by French surgeon Ambroise Paré during surgical operations to stop blood flow. 
2. The second involved methods of relieving pain with anaesthetics such as the general anaesthetic ethylene, attributed to Americans.
3. The third was surgical antisepsis, promoted by British surgeon Joseph Lister. His approach to sterilising wounds and surgical instruments with carbolic acid (now called phenol) dramatically reduced postoperative infections.

Louis Pasteur’s work on the microbiology of disease encouraged Lister to use carbolic acid to destroy microorganisms. 

In 1865, Lister successfully treated a patient whose broken leg bone had pierced the skin by wrapping the leg in cloths soaked in a carbolic acid solution. In 1867, he published his findings in “Antiseptic Principle of the Practice of Surgery”.

Lister was not the first to propose various sterilisation methods. For example, British chemist William Henry suggested heat sterilisation of clothing, while Hungarian obstetrician Ignaz Semmelweis argued that doctors should, to prevent the spread of disease, wash their hands. However, Lister's application of carbolic acid to open wounds widely prevented the growth of the terrible infections common in hospitals of his day. His writings and lectures persuaded medical professionals that they should use antiseptics.

Antiseptics are usually applied directly to body surfaces. Modern infection prevention focuses more on aseptic methods involving sterilisation: removing bacteria before they reach the patient (for example, disinfecting equipment and surgeons wearing masks). Antibiotic drugs are used to fight internal infections. In 1891, William Halsted pioneered the use of rubber gloves in surgery.

Description of the article image: Manuka honey has been shown to have antibacterial properties that help wound healing. It is produced by bees feeding on Leptospermum scoparium, which grows in New Zealand.

Historical figures mentioned in the article: William Henry (1775–1836), Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis (1818–1865), Louis Pasteur (1822-1895), Joseph Lister (1827–1912), William Stewart Halsted (1852–1922)

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