| Though the term of microbiology includes the study | | | | bacterial pneumonia falls, for example, of 66% in |
| of all micro-organisms, Frederic Gaspoz explains that | | | | 1929-1935 to 6% at the beginning of the years 1960. |
| this term was rarely used at the beginning of the | | | | How was this revolution achieved? asks Frederic |
| 20th century to indicate the activity of laboratories | | | | Gaspoz. |
| which practiced this discipline and which were more | | | | Modern history begins as for it in year 1920 within a |
| generally called laboratories of bacteriology, because | | | | laboratory of the St-Mary Hospital in London, explains |
| this branch was dominant at that the time as well by | | | | Frederic Gaspoz. Alexander Fleming works on the |
| its importance as by the possibilities of diagnostic | | | | development of vaccines likely to fight the bacterial |
| applications that it offered already. According to | | | | infections. During the First World War, he noted that |
| Frederic Gaspoz, virology was slowly leaving the field | | | | chemical disinfectants did not prevent the wounds |
| of research and did not have yet its place in the | | | | from being infected. On the other hand, since |
| routine diagnosis. The rare analyses of mycology and | | | | Pasteur, he knew the great effectiveness of |
| parasitology, rather marginal at the time, were | | | | vaccines in the construction of proper defenses of |
| assumed by laboratories of bacteriology. For Frederic | | | | the body against disease. There was a way of |
| Gaspoz, more astonishing was the fact that | | | | promising research… In 1928, Fleming notices that a |
| bacteriology had under its dependence all applications | | | | box of Petri, where he has cultivated some bacteria, |
| of immunology: if infectious serology found there its | | | | presents one mould around which these bacteria are |
| logical place, it appears quite strange to us today that | | | | missing. Frederic Gaspoz mentions that this mould, |
| hematologic immunology, in particular the | | | | identified as being a "Penicillium notatum", is indeed a |
| determination of the blood groups was carried out in | | | | bactericide. However, Fleming and its colleagues of |
| a laboratory which bore the name of laboratory of | | | | the hospital St Mary do not manage to separate the |
| bacteriology. | | | | active ingredient from the mould. Absorbed by his |
| In 1928, a researcher of a London hospital, Alexander | | | | motivation of developing vaccines, Fleming cannot |
| Fleming, identifies the bactericidal capacity of a mould. | | | | either "see" in its box the future wonder product. |
| It is however only after the beginning of the Second | | | | At the end of WW2, the majority of the agents of |
| World War (WW2) that penicillin, isolated by a | | | | the great infectious bacterial diseases were known. |
| laboratory from the university from Oxford, | | | | According to Frederic Gaspoz, the analyses practiced |
| becomes a drug. | | | | in laboratories were primarily centered on the |
| Very early, the question of the paternity of the | | | | diagnosis of diseases such as diphtheria, typhoid |
| discovery is largely discussed. Prestige associated | | | | fever, syphilis, tuberculosis, streptococcus, meningitis, |
| with the drug gives obviously force to the debate, | | | | etc. The opportunistic and nosocomial infections had |
| explains Frederic Gaspoz. More interesting, the | | | | not yet reached the alarming level that we currently |
| interrogation on the identity of the "father" of | | | | know and thus did not mobilize great effort. On the |
| penicillin is accompanied by a reflexion on the way in | | | | other hand, Frederic Gaspoz notes that the discovery |
| which the product was discovered. For Frederic | | | | and the use of antibiotics was a considerable |
| Gaspoz, the questions were: does science have to be | | | | progress in medicine that completely modified the |
| a simple aspect of pharmaceutical industry? Does it | | | | forecast of certain infectious diseases. After |
| have to be carried out by important and specialized | | | | sulfamide discovered in 1935, penicillin and |
| teams? Penicillin is undoubtedly an exceptional drug, | | | | streptomycin became available after WW2, followed |
| mentions Frederic Gaspoz. Before the years 1930, | | | | by tetracycline, chloramphenicol, the erythromycin |
| medicine is still unable to look after the bacterial | | | | and the first semi-synthetic penicillin. |
| infections. Frederic Gaspoz notes that for one | | | | The variable spectrum of these antibiotics and the |
| century, the infectious diseases have been declining in | | | | early appearance of resistance of the bacteria forced |
| the richest countries of the western civilization, | | | | laboratories to test the sensitivity of the germs in |
| thanks to progress in the food and hygiene, thanks | | | | vitro, analyzes which very early received the name |
| to the vaccination and to a better comprehension of | | | | of "antibiogramme". For Frederic Gaspoz, the |
| the process of the infection. Diseases like, for | | | | spectacular antibiotic results in the treatment of |
| example, pneumonia or typhus are rarer, mentions | | | | many infectious diseases had given the impression |
| Frederic Gaspoz. However, if one contracts one of | | | | that the problem of these diseases was solved. |
| them, the doctor has few means of action and the | | | | Clinicians seemed to be interested only in the |
| forecast is difficult. There is Salversan to look after | | | | sensitivity of the germ by neglecting sound |
| syphilis, and the sulphamides, which will be developed | | | | identification, and the role of commensal flora was |
| at the end of the years 1930, but these drugs have | | | | not correctly appraised. Frederic Gaspoz notes that it |
| both unpleasant side effects and are not total | | | | was only several years later that this view changed, |
| effective. Frederic Gaspoz notes that in the decades | | | | when the epidemiology of the nosocomial infections |
| of post-war period, the availability of abundant | | | | required to identify germs and that the protective |
| penicillin stocks will give an unsuspected dimension to | | | | role of the commensal flora was included and |
| the therapeutic capacity. The figures speak for | | | | understood. Frederic Gaspoz. |
| themselves: mortality of young people due to a | | | | |