Staphylococcal infection in thoracic surgery: experience in a subdivided ward

There was a progressive disappearance of sensitive organisms and little acquisition of multiple-resistant organisms, and when there are urgent clinical grounds for the lavish use of antibiotics, the dangers appear to be reduced by effective segregation of the patients from each other.

Abstract

We studied the incidence of staphylococcal infection in a thoracic surgery ward which consisted of a number of separate rooms, and inquired whether the subdivision of the ward was responsible for the unusually low sepsis-rate. The airborne dissemination of Staphylococcus aureus from one room to another appeared to be little less than that in an open ward; but the total number of Staph. aureus in the air was very low. Most of the patients received prophylactic antibiotics. The nasal carrier-rate of Staph. aureus by patients fell greatly during their stay in the ward. There was a progressive disappearance of sensitive organisms and little acquisition of multiple-resistant organisms. When there are urgent clinical grounds for the lavish use of antibiotics, the dangers appear to be reduced by effective segregation of the patients from each other.