Limitations of the Germ Theory

Stewart, George H.

doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(68)91425-6

Cited by 36 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…This idea captured our imagination [7], and shaped public policy [8,9], protocols, best practices, and infection control training-particularly in the healthcare and food service industries. Successive developments in microbiology and microbial ecology, technology, and theory advanced our understanding of microorganism taxonomy, anatomy, physiology, ecology, and infectious potential, and continued to refine our relationship to microorganisms and move us past a strict definition of Germ Theory [4,10].…”

Section: From Fear To Reluctant Acceptance Of the Microbial Worldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Building upon current knowledge and techniques of indoor microbiology to construct the next era of theory into microorganisms, health, and the built environment

Horve

Lloyd

Mhuireach

et al. 2019

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

113

103

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In the constructed habitat in which we spend up to 90% of our time, architectural design influences occupants' behavioral patterns, interactions with objects, surfaces, rituals, the outside environment, and each other. Within this built environment, human behavior and building design contribute to the accrual and dispersal of microorganisms; it is a collection of fomites that transfer microorganisms; reservoirs that collect biomass; structures that induce human or air movement patterns; and space types that encourage proximity or isolation between humans whose personal microbial clouds disperse cells into buildings. There have been recent calls to incorporate building microbiology into occupant health and exposure research and standards, yet the built environment is largely viewed as a repository for microorganisms which are to be eliminated, instead of a habitat which is inexorably linked to the microbial influences of building inhabitants. Health sectors have re-evaluated the role of microorganisms in health, incorporating microorganisms into prevention and treatment protocols, yet no paradigm shift has occurred with respect to microbiology of the built environment, despite calls to do so. Technological and logistical constraints often preclude our ability to link health outcomes to indoor microbiology, yet sufficient study exists to inform the theory and implementation of the next era of research and intervention in the built environment. This review presents built environment characteristics in relation to human health and disease, explores some of the current experimental strategies and interventions which explore health in the built environment, and discusses an emerging model for fostering indoor microbiology rather than fearing it.

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Section: From Fear To Reluctant Acceptance Of the Microbial Worldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Building upon current knowledge and techniques of indoor microbiology to construct the next era of theory into microorganisms, health, and the built environment

Horve

Lloyd

Mhuireach

et al. 2019

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

113

103

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In the first era of health science, scientific methods applied to medicine resulted in the development of a biomedical framework in which anatomical-pathological disease models, along with other mechanistic constructs, were used to explain why disease develops. One prototypical theoretical construct was germ theory (i.e., germs as the unique causes of infectious dis-eases) (Stewart 1968). Others included theories of inheritance that were informed by simple and mechanistic notions of genes as the unique causes of inherited disorders and risk status.…”

Section: Part 2: Emergence Of the Life Course Health Development Frammentioning

confidence: 99%

The Emerging Theoretical Framework of Life Course Health Development

Halfon

Forrest

2017

Handbook of Life Course Health Development

115

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“…The evidence for specific microorganisms in a disease is generally based on Koch's postulates, the communicability of infection and the efficacy of antimicrobial measures (4), In this article the modified criteria of Koch's postulates as suggested by SOGRANSKY (5) will be used as a basis for the discussion as they are more adequate for the dental situation than the original postulates, Associatiort with disease -An association with dental caries by a giveti organism implies both an incteased level of the organism at sites of disease and lower levels or absence at healthy sites, S, mutans is found in man in high proportions in samples within the area of an incipient carious lesion. In samples from intact tooth sites the organism is absent or occurs in low numbers.…”

Section: Supportmentioning

confidence: 99%

Support for and implications of the specific plaque hypothesis

Emilson

Krasse

1985

European J Oral Sciences

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– The role of specific microorganisms in dental caries is reviewed. A considerable amount of evidence supports the association between organisms of the Streptococcus mutans group and caries incidence and prevalence. The cariogenic potential of S. mutans is probably due to the unique combination of properties with which this microorganism is endowed. The pathogenic potential can be modified by changes in the environment. Lactobacilli play a major role in the development of a lesion. The specific plaque hypothesis has important implications because the association between S. mutans, lactobacilli and dental caries can be used in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the disease in groups of subjects as well as in the individual case.

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Limitations of the Germ Theory

Cited by 36 publications

References 14 publications

Building upon current knowledge and techniques of indoor microbiology to construct the next era of theory into microorganisms, health, and the built environment

Building upon current knowledge and techniques of indoor microbiology to construct the next era of theory into microorganisms, health, and the built environment

The Emerging Theoretical Framework of Life Course Health Development

Support for and implications of the specific plaque hypothesis

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