germ theory of disease
Pathogens cause illness
Germ theory of disease is the principle that many diseases are caused by microorganisms—bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites—that invade and multiply in the body.
This theory, established in the nineteenth century, replaced earlier beliefs that illness arose from bad air or bodily imbalances.
It forms the foundation of modern medicine, explaining why sanitation, sterilization, and antibiotics work.
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
- fungusSpore-bearing organism
- parasiteOne exploiting a host
- protozoaSingle-celled eukaryotic organisms
prion · microorganism · pathogen · virulence · pathogenicity · antigen · toxin · spore
Administered immunity booster
- antisepticMicrobe-killing substance
- sterilizationComplete elimination of microbes
- pasteurizationThermal pathogen elimination process
- sanitationCleanliness for public health
hygiene · handwashing · quarantine · isolation · disinfection · asepsis · inoculation · prophylaxis
- Koch's postulatesCriteria linking pathogen to disease
- spontaneous generationLife arising from nonliving material
- John SnowEpidemiology pioneer, anesthesia developer
- germDisease-causing microorganism
Joseph Lister · 19th century · paradigm shift · scientific revolution · discovery
Science of disease origins
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
- antibioticsBacteria-destroying medicines
- immunologyScience of bodily defenses
- epidemiologyStudy of disease spread
bacteriology · microscope · culture · immunity · treatment · laboratory · serology
bacteria
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
protozoa · prion · microorganism · pathogen · virulence · pathogenicity · antigen · toxin · spore · infectious agent
vaccination
Administered immunity booster
- antisepticMicrobe-killing substance
- sterilizationComplete elimination of microbes
- pasteurizationThermal pathogen elimination process
sanitation · hygiene · handwashing · quarantine · isolation · disinfection · asepsis · inoculation · prophylaxis · public health
Louis Pasteur
- Koch's postulatesCriteria linking pathogen to disease
- spontaneous generationLife arising from nonliving material
- John SnowEpidemiology pioneer, anesthesia developer
Joseph Lister · germ · 19th century · paradigm shift · scientific revolution · discovery
etiology
Science of disease origins
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
- antibioticsBacteria-destroying medicines
- immunologyScience of bodily defenses
epidemiology · bacteriology · microscope · culture · immunity · treatment · laboratory · serology
contagion
Disease spread by contact
host · carrier · airborne · droplet · contact · zoonosis · incubation · exposure · communicable · reservoir
germ theory of diseasespontaneous generation
Life arising from nonliving material
four humors · vitalism · demonic possession · miasma · phlogiston theory
germ theory of diseasehealth
Condition of body, mind
wellness · immunity · disease resistance · homeostasis · well-being
germ theory of diseasepseudoscience
Bogus methodology posing as factual
folk medicine · quackery · superstition · alternative medicine
germs, germicide, germinal, germinate, germination, theory, theories, theorize, theoretical