Theodor Escherich (1857-1911) was a pediatrician and bacteriologist. After earning an MD in 1882, he became a professor of pediatrics at Graz in 1890. In 1884 he was in Naples during the cholera epidemic. His bacterial research was conducted at St. Anna's Children's Clinic, Graz. Escherich specialized in the study of faecal enterobacteria, and he pioneered familiarity with the coliforms, one of which — Escherichia coli, or E.coli — is named for him. He also campaigned for breast-feeding of infants. He was the author of Die Darmbakterien des Sauglings (The Intestinal Bacteria of Infants), published in 1886.
Last modified 1 February 2023