SUMMARYThe model was based on grasping a fabric-covered bottle contaminated with a strain of Staphylococcus saprophyticus, then grasping a sterile fabric-covered bottle and counting the organisms transferred. When the donor fabric was moist 10 % of the available cells passed onto the hands, but this fell to 0-05 % when the inoculum dried. Transfer from wet hands to the fabric amounted to 85 %, but in the complete model only 0*06 % of the available cells were transferred. The model was used to assess simple methods of degerming the hands. Washing the hands reduced transfer by 95 %, while washing in 70 % alcohol reduced transfer by 99*99 %. Lesser procedures investigated included applying 0-2 ml of 80 % ethanol to the hands, which reduced transfer by 93 %.

SUMMARYThere was a 1000-fold difference between the highest and the lowest mean rate of dispersal of bacteria-carrying particles during exercise among a group of three male and three female subjects. Differences in the numbers of skin fragments dispersed and in the proportion of these carrying bacteria were almost equally responsible for this. Since there is little difference between individuals in the rate of skin replacement the differences in the rates of dispersal of skin fragments during exercise must reflect large variations in the amount of skin surface removed in other ways. The skin fragments dispersed had a wide size range extending below 5 ,tm for the minimum projected diameter (MPD). The median MPD was about 20 ,um with 7-10% less than 10 ,um.

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Summary. A uni‐directional downflow (‘laminar’flow) ventilation system for a single‐bed patient‐room is described. It produced clean air at velocities as low as 0.12 m/sec (25 ft/min). Bacteriological studies on bed‐making done in the room showed that strains of Staphylococcus aureus carried on the nurses’external clothing were often transferred to the patients’bedclothes. This possible route of patient infection was almost eliminated when the nurses wore disposable plastic aprons over their dresses.

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