Study of Oral, Nasal and Skin Flora in an Investigation on Hospital Infection

Abstract

Patients in surgical clinics who have undergone a variety of operations, the personnel in these clinics, along with the personnel in clinics of internal medicine, have been screened for potentially pathogenic bacteria carried in their orophyrangeal and nasal secretions and on their hands. 58% of the patients, 54% of those in the surgical clinics and 52% of the personnel in the clinics of internal medicine were found to be carriers. A relatively high rate of carriers of potentially pathogenic gram-negative rods was found in the hospital environment. Except for proteus, no significant pattern was observed with regard to distribution of bacteria among the various groups. Antibiotic resistance of S. aureus and S. albus haemolyticus strains isolated in the hospital environment was found to be higher in strains from patients than in those from personnel. It was found that 14% of typable S. aureus strains were in group I, 39% in group II and 46% in group III.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa folliculitis after shower/bath exposure

“… 15–16 In immunocompetent individuals, the mean duration of untreated PF is 15 days, although in some cases PF may persist for many weeks. 1 The most frequent serotypes reported are 0 : 11 1–15 and, to a lesser extent, 0 : 4. 2 …”

“…Usually, Pseudomonas aeruginosa does not belong to the normal skin flora, as the microorganism is unable to withstand dryness. 6 Simple occlusion does not seem capable of increasing the cutaneous colony count of Pseudomonas aeruginosa , whilst both skin hydration and occlusion can increase Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonies in human skin causing clinical manifestations; 7–8 Pseudomonas dermatitis under the occlusive effect of diving suits has been reported. 3 Other cases of PF have been reported after exposure to contaminated pools 1 or using a hot‐tube in the nude.…”

Effect of Treatment in Maxillary Sinusitis

“…To gain the better results with the first mode of treatment, the risk of colonization with Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas has to be accepted. As a consequence (1) antibiotic and irri gation therapy should be withheld until complications are imminent; (2) an tibiotics should only be administered after previous sinus cultures; (3) irri gation should be performed with sterile saline, and (4) if ever possible, hos pitalization should be avoided.…”

“…According to our own data and to the literature, the colonization of the nose and subsequently of the sinuses with Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudo monas is not only a function of sinusitis' chronicity but is also related to previous antibiotic and surgical therapy, hospitalization, and to the pa tient's general condition ( fig. 3) [3,6,7,8]. The most important etiological factors for this colonization seem to be hospitalization [3,6] and the eradi cation of the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria being sensitive to the previous antibiotic treatment [4].…”

“…3) [3,6,7,8]. The most important etiological factors for this colonization seem to be hospitalization [3,6] and the eradi cation of the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria being sensitive to the previous antibiotic treatment [4].…”