Studies on the dispersal of staphylococci

A garment for use in the operating theatre: the effect upon bacterial shedding

“…We found as others (Noble & Davies, 1965;May & Pomeroy, 1973) that this difference remained when both sexes wore identical trouser suits. When female subjects wore the operatingtheatre frock a significant increase in the dispersal was found in comparison with the trouser suit.…”

“…Since every human being carries an immense number of bacteria (Noble & Somerville, 1974), shedding from the upper respiratory tract, oral cavity, skin and hair of every person present in the operating-theatre will occur (Wells & Wells, 1936;Duguid & Wallace, 1948;Noble & Davies, 1965;Bethune et al 1965). Contamination of the air by these microorganisms is reduced by wearing a facemask, a cap and special clothing (Duguid & Wallace, 1948;Blowers & McCluskey, 1965, Bernard et al 1965Mitchell & Gamble, 1974).…”

The dimensions of skin fragments dispersed into the air during activity

“…As a result of this the 40-fold difference in the numbers of skin scales dispersed combines with the 25-fold difference in the proportion of fragments carrying bacteria to give the observed 1000-fold difference in the rates of dispersal of bacteria-carrying particles. The more active dispersers seem in these respects to approach the characteristics of patients with skin disease who both disperse very large numbers of skin fragments and often exhibit a very high degree of skin colonization (Noble & Davies, 1965). It is, perhaps, worth noting that the most vigorous disperser in our series was also a persistent nasal carrier of Staphylococcus aureus and that the nasal strain could be recovered from various sites on his skin.…”

“…Noble et al 1976). Estimates have also been made of the 'median equivalent particle diameters'* of the skin fragments dispersed and of those carrying micro-organisms (Noble & Davies, 1965). The penetration of these through fabrics worn as protective garments is obviously dependent on their physical size but there do not appear to be any published data for their actual dimensions.…”

Yeasts in a hospital for patients with skin diseases

“…Patients with diseases of the skin, especially eczema and mycosis fungoides, have been shown to be major sources of micro-organisms in hospital cross-infection, dispersal taking place on particles of desquamated skin (Noble & Davies, 1965; Wilson, White & Noble, 1971). The greater ability of dermatological patients to disseminate bacteria is due to a greater degree of skin colonization and to the fact that such patients liberate more particles of skin than persons with clinically normal skin (Noble, 1971 a).…”