Joseph Lister’s performance of the first antiseptic surgery in 1866 marked a pivotal moment in medical history, fundamentally transforming surgical practices and patient outcome.

Prior to Lister’s innovation, infections were rampant in hospitals, and surgery was often fatal due to sepsis. Drawing on Louis Pasteur’s germ theory, Lister introduced the use of carbolic acid to sterilize surgical instruments, wounds, and the operating environment. His approach drastically reduced post–operative infection and mortality rates, proving that infection was not an inevitable consequence of surgery but could be prevented through antiseptic measures.

Lister’s techniques revolutionized the safety of surgical procedures and saving countless lives. His contributions are considered a cornerstone in the development of infection control in medicine.