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How did Joseph Lister apply germ theory to surgery?

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Robert Koch Best known for demonstrating that specific microorganisms cause specific diseases, German bacteriologist and physician helped to confirm the germ theory of disease.

British surgeon Joseph Lister applied germ theory to surgery by establishing the principle that bacteria must be prevented from entering an operation wound. Influenced by Louis Pasteur’s work on microorganisms, Lister concluded that sepsis in surgical wounds was caused by germs rather than "miasma" or bad air.123

To implement this, Lister utilized carbolic acid to create a chemical barrier between the wound and the surrounding environment. His antiseptic techniques included:13

Sterilizing surgical instruments.1
Cleaning wounds with carbolic acid.1
Disinfecting the air and the operating room to protect the surgical site from airborne germs.12

By adopting these methods, Lister successfully reduced surgical mortality rates in his wards, providing clear evidence that controlling microbial exposure significantly improved patient safety. His work laid the foundation for modern antiseptic and aseptic surgical practices.243