What was Lister's primary goal in introducing phenol into surgical practices?

Lister's primary goal in introducing phenol into surgical practices was to sterilize surgical instruments and clean wounds. This was a revolutionary step in the field of surgery during the 19th century, as it was recognized that microorganisms were responsible for causing infections. Lister's use of phenol as an antiseptic aimed to kill these microbes and significantly reduce the incidence of post-surgical infections, thereby improving patient outcomes. The effectiveness of phenol in reducing infection rates demonstrated the importance of aseptic technique and laid the groundwork for modern infection control practices in healthcare settings.

The other options, while relevant to various aspects of surgical practices, do not accurately reflect Lister's primary intent with the introduction of phenol. For example, reducing surgical wait times and increasing the number of surgical procedures would be more related to factors such as surgical efficiency rather than infection control. Enhancing patient nutrition, while important for overall health, is not directly connected to Lister's contributions focused on antisepsis in surgery.