What is the proper Japanese word for the germ theory of disease?


I was looking for a Japanese word for [the germ theory of
disease](https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Germ_theory_of_disease). I found [an
article in the Japanese
Wikipedia](https://www.wikiwand.com/ja/%E7%97%85%E5%8E%9F%E4%BD%93#/.E7.B4.B0.E8.8F.8C.E8.AA.AC.E3.81.A8.E7.92.B0.E5.A2.83.E8.AA.AC)
that uses the word 細菌説{さいきんせつ} for what essentially is the germ theory. Is it
the correct word or there is some other alternative?




「細菌説」 seems to be a fair choice, but there are alternatives. Here's what I
gathered:

  * 「細菌説」 
    * _English-Japanese medical dictionary_ [1]
    * _Encyclopedia of pharmaceutical history_ [2], in describing Pasteur.
  * 「（疾患）病原菌論」 
    * _Japan medical terminology_ [3] from the Japanese Association of Medical Sciences.
  * 「微生物起因説」 
    * _Igaku-Shoin's medical dictionary_ [4], in the article of Pasteur
  * 「微生物説」 
    * _医科細菌学_ [5] (medical bacteriology)
  * 「媒菌説] 
    * _An English-Japanese dictionary of medical science_ [6]

Note that, although the _germ theory_ is often referred to as the _細菌説_ ， _細菌_
does not really correspond to _germ_.

As far as understand, _germ_ in this context is basically an informal synonym
of _pathogen_ == something that causes disease. This corresponds to 病原体, while
細菌 is more specific word for bacteria. Related terms include

  * 微生物 (micro-living) : microbes. 
  * 病原体 (illness-source/cause-thing) : Sounds formal and technical. germ / pathogen.
  * ばい菌 : informal, non-technical, plain word for "those living things that reproduce and cause illness" or "that thing you want to remove by washing hands to avoid desease". Probably closest to _germ_.
  * 細菌 : bacteria. (Although sometimes misused for much broader sense)
  * 菌 : very vague word for fungi (not in the context of cuisine) + bacteria + yeast + etc.

* * *

1: "[医学用語大辞典](http://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000002046090-00)".
日外アソシエーツ, 1989.

2: "[薬学史事典](http://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I027211872-00)". 日本薬史学会 編.
薬事日報社, 2016.

3: "[日本医学会医学用語辞典](http://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000008502728-00)".
南山堂, 2007.

4: ["医学書院医学大辞典"](http://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000010048126-00).
医学書院, 2009.

5: ["医科細菌学"](http://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000009412256-00). 笹川 千尋.
南江堂, 2008.

6: ["医学英和辞典"](http://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000003661775-00). 研究社,
2009.




「細菌説」 seems to be a fair choice, but there are alternatives. Here's what I
gathered:

  * 「細菌説」 
    * _English-Japanese medical dictionary_ [1]
    * _Encyclopedia of pharmaceutical history_ [2], in describing Pasteur.
  * 「（疾患）病原菌論」 
    * _Japan medical terminology_ [3] from the Japanese Association of Medical Sciences.
  * 「微生物起因説」 
    * _Igaku-Shoin's medical dictionary_ [4], in the article of Pasteur
  * 「微生物説」 
    * _医科細菌学_ [5] (medical bacteriology)
  * 「媒菌説] 
    * _An English-Japanese dictionary of medical science_ [6]

Note that, although the _germ theory_ is often referred to as the _細菌説_ ， _細菌_
does not really correspond to _germ_.

As far as understand, _germ_ in this context is basically an informal synonym
of _pathogen_ == something that causes disease. This corresponds to 病原体, while
細菌 is more specific word for bacteria. Related terms include

  * 微生物 (micro-living) : microbes. 
  * 病原体 (illness-source/cause-thing) : Sounds formal and technical. germ / pathogen.
  * ばい菌 : informal, non-technical, plain word for "those living things that reproduce and cause illness" or "that thing you want to remove by washing hands to avoid desease". Probably closest to _germ_.
  * 細菌 : bacteria. (Although sometimes misused for much broader sense)
  * 菌 : very vague word for fungi (not in the context of cuisine) + bacteria + yeast + etc.

* * *

1: "[医学用語大辞典](http://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000002046090-00)".
日外アソシエーツ, 1989.

2: "[薬学史事典](http://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I027211872-00)". 日本薬史学会 編.
薬事日報社, 2016.

3: "[日本医学会医学用語辞典](http://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000008502728-00)".
南山堂, 2007.

4: ["医学書院医学大辞典"](http://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000010048126-00).
医学書院, 2009.

5: ["医科細菌学"](http://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000009412256-00). 笹川 千尋.
南江堂, 2008.

6: ["医学英和辞典"](http://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000003661775-00). 研究社,
2009.

