Germ Theory

Germ Theory: Medical Pioneers in Infectious Diseases,
SECOND EDITION

From the ancient worlds of Hippocrates and Avicenna to the early 20th century hospitals of Paul Ehrlich and Lillian Wald to the modern-day laboratories of François Barré-Sinoussi and Barry Marshall, Germ Theory brings to life the inspiring stories of medical pioneers whose work helped change the very fabric of our understanding of how we think about and treat infectious diseases.

In beautifully crafted narratives, author Robert Gaynes describes and presents compelling stories, including

• How Edward Jenner, the pioneer of vaccination, faced down scores of naysayers
• How a chance discovery led Louis Pasteur to the idea that the virulence of microbes can be altered
• How scientists in France, the Netherlands, and Denmark produced penicillin during World War 2 while keeping their efforts hidden from the Nazis

The second edition features three new chapters based on interviews with Nobel Laureates François Barré-Sinoussi and Barry Marshall, and former NIAID Director and medical advisor to seven U.S. presidents Anthony Fauci, detailing fascinating accounts from their careers, including their groundbreaking work in the areas of HIV, peptic ulcers, and COVID-19, respectively.

Winner of a CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title award for its first edition, Germ Theory is required reading for anyone training or working in the field of infectious diseases or with an interest in microbes, the history of medicine, or how new discoveries can bring about paradigmatic shifts in thinking. Germ Theory, Second Edition was selected as a top community college title for December 2023 by CHOICE: The Top 75 Community College Titles: December 2023 - Choice 360

List of Illustrations vii

Foreword xi

Preface xiii

Special Note xv

Acknowledgments xvii

About the Author xix

Chapter 1 Introduction 1

Chapter 2 Hippocrates, the Father of Modern Medicine 11

Chapter 3 Avicenna, a Thousand Years Ahead of His Time 29

Chapter 4 Girolamo Fracastoro and Contagion in Renaissance Medicine 41

Chapter 5 Antony van Leeuwenhoek and the Birth of Microscopy 57

Chapter 6 The Demise of the Humoral Theory of Medicine 71

Chapter 7 Edward Jenner and the Discovery of Vaccination 85

Chapter 8 Ignaz Semmelweis and the Control of Puerperal Sepsis 105

Chapter 9 Louis Pasteur and the Germ Theory of Disease 127

Chapter 10 Robert Koch and the Rise of Bacteriology 153

Chapter 11 Joseph Lister, the Man Who Made Surgery Safe 181

Chapter 12 Paul Ehrlich and the Magic Bullet 205

Chapter 13 Lillian Wald and the Foundations of Modern Public Health 229

Chapter 14 Alexander Fleming and the Discovery of Penicillin 243

Chapter 15 Françoise Barré- Sinoussi and the Discovery of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus 273

Chapter 16 Barry Marshall and Helicobacter pylori in Peptic Ulcer Disease 295

Chapter 17 Anthony Fauci: America’s Top Infectious Disease Doctor 315

Chapter 18 Conclusions 343

Index 351

"Gaynes weaves scientific concepts across chapters, effectively connecting historic events to modern-day challenges and guiding the reader through the effects and implications of the evolution of germ theory in a contemporary context. By making Germ Theory pertinent and understandable to readers in fields across science and medicine, Gaynes provides a wonderful tool to engage the next generation of public health professionals and reinvigorate those currently in the field." Rachel N. Wofford, Tennessee Department of Health, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Volume 30, Number 7 (July 2024)

Germ Theory: Medical Pioneers in Infectious Diseases,
SECOND EDITION

From the ancient worlds of Hippocrates and Avicenna to the early 20th century hospitals of Paul Ehrlich and Lillian Wald to the modern-day laboratories of François Barré-Sinoussi and Barry Marshall, Germ Theory brings to life the inspiring stories of medical pioneers whose work helped change the very fabric of our understanding of how we think about and treat infectious diseases.

In beautifully crafted narratives, author Robert Gaynes describes and presents compelling stories, including

• How Edward Jenner, the pioneer of vaccination, faced down scores of naysayers
• How a chance discovery led Louis Pasteur to the idea that the virulence of microbes can be altered
• How scientists in France, the Netherlands, and Denmark produced penicillin during World War 2 while keeping their efforts hidden from the Nazis

The second edition features three new chapters based on interviews with Nobel Laureates François Barré-Sinoussi and Barry Marshall, and former NIAID Director and medical advisor to seven U.S. presidents Anthony Fauci, detailing fascinating accounts from their careers, including their groundbreaking work in the areas of HIV, peptic ulcers, and COVID-19, respectively.

Winner of a CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title award for its first edition, Germ Theory is required reading for anyone training or working in the field of infectious diseases or with an interest in microbes, the history of medicine, or how new discoveries can bring about paradigmatic shifts in thinking.