Infection, despite first antisepsis (destruction of microorganisms present) and later asepsis (avoidance of contamination), is still an ever-present menace; and shock continues to perplex physicians.
The means to combat infection hovered between antisepsis and asepsis.
Many surgeons, brought up in a confused misunderstanding of the antiseptic principle believing that carbolic would cover a multitude of sins, many of which they were ignorant of committing failed to grasp what asepsis was all about.
Tradition died hard, and asepsis had an uphill struggle before it was fully accepted.
In surgical practice he adopted the principles of complete asepsis introduced by Joseph Lister.
Thereafter, attention to avoiding contact with nonsterilized objects is the basis of maintaining asepsis.
It was a generation before Lister's recommendations became routine and the next steps were taken toward the modern standard of asepsis — that is, entirely excluding germs from the surgical field, using heat-sterilized instruments and surgical teams clad in sterile gowns and gloves.
These changes [the opening to international tourism, foreign investment, some small business and family remittances] have their social cost, because we lived in a glass case, pure asepsis, and now we are surrounded by viruses, bacteria to the point of distraction and the egoism created by the capitalist system of production".
Assuming that the great preparation reaches its perfect flowering, unprecedented advances will take place in the fields of chemistry, metallurgy, aerodynamics, dietetics, asepsis, hospital administration, etc. all this will be wonderful.
HENRY SCHEIN INC., Melville, N.Y., a maker of face masks for hospitals, bought closely held Colonial Surgical, Los Angeles, to add examination gloves and other asepsis products.
Asepsis gained ground fast, however.
