Group 7: Germ Theory

Tristan Roman, Joe Needham, Katie Carfagno

Overview• Germ Theory• Being Discussed:• Ignaz Semellweis• Louis Pasteur• Robert Koch• Joseph Lister• Alexander Fleming

What is the Germ Theory?

• Lead scientists to conclude that infectious diseases were cause by microorganisms.

• Also known as germs.

What is the Germ Theory?

• The scientists work opened the doors to research into the identification of disease.

• Coming up with potential life-saving treatments.

Ignaz Semmelweis

• Was a physician.• Work demonstrated a way that could drastically reduce

the number of women's death after child birth• By washing your hands.

Ignaz Semmelweis

• Ignaz figured out what the problem was.• Introduced rigorous handwashing rules.• Death after childbirth was drastically reduced.• Became known as the "Savior of the Mothers"

Louis Pasteur

• Was not actually very smart during early years of school• Took hard classes and pushed himself to get smarter• Began the study of disease later in life

Louis Pasteur

• Invented pasteurization• Suffered a back stroke and was paralyzed but continued

research• Created vaccinations for anthrax and rabies

Robert Koch

• Was a German physician• Was a microbiologist• Helped develop chemicals to fight bacteria

Robert Koch

• Helped build on Pasteur's work on the germ theory• Proved that bacterium causes Anthrax• Helped develop a way to stain bacteria

Joseph Lister

• Introduced new principles of cleanliness which transformed surgical practice in the late 1800's

• Did not discover new drugs• Called the 'father of antiseptic surgery' because he

discovered that there was a major lack of cleanliness in hospitals which made people more sick

Joseph Lister

• In 1865, he learned of Louis Pasteur's theory that microorganisms cause infection

• Using phenol as an antiseptic, he reduced the mortality rate in his ward to 15% within four years

Alexander Fleming

• known for discovering the enzyme lysozyme in 1923• also known for discovering the antibiotic substance

benzyl penicillin (penicillin G) in 1928

Alexander Fleming

• Discovered the worlds first antibiotic bacteria killer• Scottish biologist• Discovered benzyl penicillin (an antibiotic)

Conclusion

• These men all had amazing ideas and changed the world significantly.

• They all had incredible contributions that made the world a better place

• Many lives were saved and many sicknesses were avoided because of the hard work that all of these men put in.