Ep 21: Childbed Fever and Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis: A Tragic Lesson in Hand Hygiene

In this episode of "Transmissible: A Public Health Podcast," we journey to mid-19th century Vienna to uncover the tragic yet inspiring story of Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis. Dr. Semmelweis's revolutionary epidemiologic work proved the importance of handwashing in preventing childbed fever, yet he faced fierce resistance from the medical establishment of his time. Despite the initial rejection and personal sacrifices, his discoveries eventually transformed medical practices and saved countless lives. Citations: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9902590/ https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(96)06481-1/fulltext https://www.amazon.com/Gordis-Epidemiology-David-Celentano-ScD/dp/0323552293 https://magazine.punch.co.uk/gallery-image/Victorian-Era-Cartoons/G0000czGdMEOaVXY/I00009EE9wIky71Q https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ignaz-Semmelweis