Bacitracin Ointment and Neonatal Staphylococci

A bacteriological survey was undertaken which indicated that most of the nursery population was heavily colonized with Staphylococcus aureus, Phage Type 54, which offered a unique opportunity for investigation, since the survey indicated that the epidemic was maintained.

Abstract

The control of staphylococcal disease in newborn nurseries continues to be a major problem. In spite of all precautions, sporadic outbreaks of staphylococcal infections continue to occur, and epidemics of staphylococcal disease are not uncommon. Such epidemics are usually well established before they are recognized, since clinical manifestations of the infection often do not appear until after the newborns have been discharged from the hospital. Recently it was brought to our attention that newborn infants were being returned to the clinics of this hospital with staphylococcal pyoderma. Accordingly, a bacteriological survey was undertaken which indicated that most of the nursery population was heavily colonized with Staphylococcus aureus, Phage Type 54. This population offered a unique opportunity for investigation, since the survey also indicated that the colonized with Staphylococcus aureus, Phage Type 54. This population offered a unique opportunity for investigation, since the survey also indicated that the epidemic was maintained