FAQ About Joseph Lister

Joseph Lister was motivated by the high rate of infections and mortality in surgical patients. After learning about the germ theory of disease, particularly the work of Louis Pasteur, Lister sought to apply these principles to surgery. He believed that by eliminating germs, the risk of infection could be drastically reduced. His successful use of carbolic acid to sterilize surgical tools and wounds validated his theory and motivated widespread adoption of antiseptic methods.