Contemporary Reaction To Ignaz Semmelweis - Semmelweis's Misconception of Childbed Fever

Semmelweis's Misconception of Childbed Fever

Today it is well known that Semmelweis was wrong about the theory of cadaveric contamination. What Semmelweis did not know is that chlorinated lime not only destroys the stench on contaminated hands, but also the bacteria there — the germ theory of disease had yet to be discovered. Many of the epidemics of childbed fever were probably caused by streptococcus infections— either type A, which is commonly found in the throat and nasopharynx of otherwise healthy carriers, or type B, which lives on the skin. Type B is also found in the female genitals of about 5-30% of pregnant women. It is therefore necessary for the physician to disinfect their hands before every examination and not, as Semmelweis thought, only after visits to the morgue.