[Hygiene and asepsis in surgery: introduction (author's transl)]

Area of Science:

• Surgical practice
• Infection prevention
• Clinical hygiene

Context:

• The development of asepsis and clinical hygiene by European and American surgeons in the late 19th century established infection prevention as a cornerstone of surgical care.
• Contemporary medical advancements have significantly increased the demands on clinical hygiene protocols.
• There is a recognized disparity between the pace of therapeutic innovation and the evolution of clinical hygiene practices.

Purpose:

• To highlight the historical significance of asepsis and clinical hygiene in surgery.
• To underscore the challenges posed by the rapid expansion of modern therapeutic methods to existing hygiene standards.
• To identify the gap between current medical practice demands and clinical hygiene capabilities as a critical issue.

Summary:

• Surgical infection prevention, rooted in 19th-century asepsis, remains paramount.
• Rapidly evolving therapeutic methods are outstripping the advancements in clinical hygiene.
• Addressing this gap in clinical hygiene is an urgent medical priority.

Impact:

• Emphasizes the critical need for updated clinical hygiene strategies to match medical progress.
• Underscores the potential risks associated with inadequate hygiene in the face of advanced treatments.
• Calls for immediate attention to bridge the gap between medical innovation and infection control.