Semmelweis Exam #1 previous quizzes
with complete solutions
Ignaz Semmelweis was trained as a ___________________ and went to work in an
Austrian hospital around the year __________ . - Correct Answers -Physician, 1847
What differences did he observe between the doctor's/med student's obstetrics clinic
and the midwives' clinic in his hospital? - Correct Answers -Much lower death rate in the
midwife's clinic
What "activities" in the clinics did Semmelweis study to see if they might be the cause of
the illness? - Correct Answers -The ringing of small religious bells in the clinic or the
position of the women while giving birth
Semmelweis ruled out those activities and finally concluded that what was being
transmitted to the mothers in the clinic by the male doctors and med students ? -
Correct Answers -Something on their hands and clothing that they picked up from
dissecting cadavers or the autopsies of the patients who died of the illness
What did Semmelweis have the doctors do to limit the spread of the disease among the
new mothers? - Correct Answers -Washing their hands with a chlorine product
The change in the doctors behavior that Semmelweis had them do resulted in - Correct
Answers -a dramatic decline in the rate of illness and death, equaling the low rate in the
midwives clinic
We now know that the microorganism being spread in the doctor's clinic that causes
puerperal fever (and many other human diseases!) is - Correct Answers -Group A
streptococci (Streptococcus pyogenes)
Because of the success of Semmelweis' remedy to the spread of the illness in the
doctor's clinic and the significant saving of lives, his reward was - Correct Answers -
belittled, insulted, mocked for making them wash their hands so often for no reason and
eventually fired from his position.
How long is it estimated, according to NIH research, that coronavirus can survive on
stainless steel or plastic surfaces? - Correct Answers -2-3 days
with complete solutions
Ignaz Semmelweis was trained as a ___________________ and went to work in an
Austrian hospital around the year __________ . - Correct Answers -Physician, 1847
What differences did he observe between the doctor's/med student's obstetrics clinic
and the midwives' clinic in his hospital? - Correct Answers -Much lower death rate in the
midwife's clinic
What "activities" in the clinics did Semmelweis study to see if they might be the cause of
the illness? - Correct Answers -The ringing of small religious bells in the clinic or the
position of the women while giving birth
Semmelweis ruled out those activities and finally concluded that what was being
transmitted to the mothers in the clinic by the male doctors and med students ? -
Correct Answers -Something on their hands and clothing that they picked up from
dissecting cadavers or the autopsies of the patients who died of the illness
What did Semmelweis have the doctors do to limit the spread of the disease among the
new mothers? - Correct Answers -Washing their hands with a chlorine product
The change in the doctors behavior that Semmelweis had them do resulted in - Correct
Answers -a dramatic decline in the rate of illness and death, equaling the low rate in the
midwives clinic
We now know that the microorganism being spread in the doctor's clinic that causes
puerperal fever (and many other human diseases!) is - Correct Answers -Group A
streptococci (Streptococcus pyogenes)
Because of the success of Semmelweis' remedy to the spread of the illness in the
doctor's clinic and the significant saving of lives, his reward was - Correct Answers -
belittled, insulted, mocked for making them wash their hands so often for no reason and
eventually fired from his position.
How long is it estimated, according to NIH research, that coronavirus can survive on
stainless steel or plastic surfaces? - Correct Answers -2-3 days
