Abstract
Professor Jan Mikulicz Radecki, a doctor of many specialties, was involved not only in many branches of surgery but also in urology, orthopaedics and gynaecology, in a broad sense of oncology, otorhinolaryngology, anaesthesiology as well as radiology.
Jan Mikulicz Radecki was a promoter and one of the pioneers of asepsis in Europe as well as in the whole world. He introduced the steam boiler for sterilization and, while working in Wrocław, he developed an aseptic operating theatre. Furthermore, another innovation of Mikulicz's clinic was the use of a face mask that was made of a sterile bandage and attached to a cap.
The aim of this study was to briefly summarize the most important achievements of this outstanding doctor and inventor who, as one of the precursors of asepsis, as well as a brilliant and versatile operator, inventor and doctor, has given unequaled merit to humanity. Nowadays, when the world is struggling with the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the principles of asepsis introduced by Mikulicz-Radecki have become extremely valid and important.