Key figures in the development of germ theory include Louis Pasteur, Joseph Lister, and Robert Koch. Pasteur demonstrated that microorganisms cause processes such as fermentation and decay, helping to disprove spontaneous generation. Lister applied these ideas to medicine by introducing antiseptic surgical techniques to reduce infection, while Koch established that specific microorganisms cause specific diseases and developed a framework, known as Koch’s postulates, to link pathogens to illnesses.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style