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Review Article Volume 14 Issue 2
Tuberculosis from the middle ages to the emergence of modern microbiology: beliefs, therapeutic practices and scientific advances
Aurora Farfán Márquez
Received: May 12, 2026 | Published: May 28, 2026
Citation: Márquez AF. Tuberculosis from the middle ages to the emergence of modern microbiology: beliefs, therapeutic practices and scientific advances. J Microbial Exp. 2026;14(2):44-45. DOI: 10.15406/jmen.2026.14.00457
Abstract
Tuberculosis has been one of the most historically significant infectious diseases due to its high mortality rate and the multiple cultural and medical interpretations surrounding it. The aim of this work is to analyze the historical evolution of the conceptions, treatments, and scientific discoveries related to tuberculosis from the Middle Ages to the emergence of modern microbiology. A historical and documentary review of sources related to the disease was conducted, considering the contributions of classical, medieval, and modern medicine. The findings show that for centuries tuberculosis was interpreted from hereditary, humoral, and supernatural perspectives, which fostered the development of empirical therapeutic practices and religious rituals such as the “King’s Touch.” Subsequently, the development of the microscope, the germ theory of disease, and the research of scientists such as Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch made it possible to identify the role of microorganisms in infectious diseases and laid the foundations of medical microbiology. Likewise, early inoculation and vaccination practices contributed to the establishment of new preventive strategies. It is concluded that the scientific understanding of tuberculosis was the result of a long historical process influenced by social, cultural, and technological factors that transformed modern medicine.
Keywords: tuberculosis, microbiology, history of medicine, vaccination, infectious diseases
©2026 Márquez. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.