Meet Dr Semmelweis, the man who discovered the power of hand-washing

Related News One of the front-line defenses individuals have against the spread of the coronavirus can feel decidedly low-tech: hand-washing. In fact, it was 19th-century Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweis who, after observational studies, first advanced the idea of “hand hygiene” in medical settings. The simple act of hand-washing is a critical way to prevent the spread of germs. Here’s how Semmelweis, working in an obstetrics ward in Vienna in the 19th century, made the connection between...