Which practice by Joseph Lister helped advance surgery?

Which practice by Joseph Lister helped advance surgery?

• A. Vaccination against smallpox
• B. Discovery of insulin
• C. Use of penicillin in surgery
• D. Sterilizing instruments and washing hands with antiseptic spray

Answer: (D)

Antiseptic technique in surgery is the central idea here. Joseph Lister showed that wiping instruments, wounds, and hands with a germ-killing agent could drastically reduce infections after operations. By introducing sterilization and antisepsis—using chemical agents like carbolic acid to kill germs in the surgical field—he lowered postoperative mortality and set a standard for clean, guarded procedures in the operating room. This was a shift from operating in a “germ-filled” environment to actively preventing infections, which is why it advanced surgery so much. Vaccination against smallpox, discovery of insulin, and the use of penicillin in surgery are important medical milestones, but they address different problems. Vaccination prevents diseases by training the immune system, insulin treats diabetes, and penicillin is an antibiotic that combats infections after they occur or in certain contexts. Lister’s contribution was about preventing infections during the surgical process itself through antiseptic technique, which is why this practice is the best choice.

Antiseptic technique in surgery is the central idea here. Joseph Lister showed that wiping instruments, wounds, and hands with a germ-killing agent could drastically reduce infections after operations. By introducing sterilization and antisepsis—using chemical agents like carbolic acid to kill germs in the surgical field—he lowered postoperative mortality and set a standard for clean, guarded procedures in the operating room. This was a shift from operating in a “germ-filled” environment to actively preventing infections, which is why it advanced surgery so much.

Vaccination against smallpox, discovery of insulin, and the use of penicillin in surgery are important medical milestones, but they address different problems. Vaccination prevents diseases by training the immune system, insulin treats diabetes, and penicillin is an antibiotic that combats infections after they occur or in certain contexts. Lister’s contribution was about preventing infections during the surgical process itself through antiseptic technique, which is why this practice is the best choice.