Which event was a breakthrough in Semmelweis's investigation of childbed fever?

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Let's examine the historical context of Ignaz Semmelweis and the puzzle of childbed fever. 
Option 1: 'The implementation of personal protective equipment'—While protective measures later became important, Semmelweis's pivotal insight did not arise from wearing gear; his breakthrough came from new observations about contagion pathways rather than equipment usage.
Option 2: 'The discovery of microorganisms.'—This is associated with germ theory more broadly and with later scientists like Pasteur and Koch. Semmelweis did not discover microorganisms himself, nor did he identify them as the cause; his key observation was epidemiological, linking transmission to cadaver-related exposure, not naming microbes.
Option 3: 'The death of a co-worker, Kolletschka, from similar symptoms after an autopsy accident.'—This event provided a crucial analogy: a physician died from similar symptoms after performing autopsies, illustrating that cadaveric material could transmit the disease to patients. This breakthrough linked the practice of conducting autopsies to the spread of puerperal fever and spurred him to advocate handwashing with antiseptic solution.
Option 4: 'The introduction of sanitation practices.'—While sanitation became part of the broader reform, the immediate breakthrough was the observation connecting cadaver exposure to infection, not the mere introduction of sanitation in general.
Option 5: 'The realization that bad air was not the cause.'—This reflects a shift away from miasma theory, but Semmelweis’s decisive proof came from the autopsy-related transmission, not just a rejection of 'bad air' as a cause. The more concrete turning point was the direct link demonstrated by the autopsy incident.
In summary, the most compelling and transformative moment was the autopsy-related case of Kolletschka, which provided the concrete link between cadaver exposure and the spread of the disease, catalyzing his advocacy for hand disinfection and changes in medical practice.

BIOL 271 Case Study 4 Quiz

Which event was a breakthrough in Semmelweis's investigation of childbed fever?

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