The "Cloud Baby": An Example of Bacterial-Viral Interaction

Eichenwald, Heinz F.

doi:10.1001/archpedi.1960.04020040163003

Cited by 70 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The importance of individual 'dispersers' has recently been shown in three branches of hospital practice. Eichenwald, Kotsevalov & Fasso (1960) detected, in a maternity nursery, 'cloud babies' who contributed 5-2 large numbers of Staph. aureus to their environment when suffering from adenovirus infections of the respiratory tract.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The mechanism and prevention of cross-infection in dermatological wards

Selwyn

1965

J. Hyg.

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Much of the extensive work on hospital cross-infection has of necessity been opportunist associated with the occurrence of sporadic outbreaks of infection. Investigations concentrated on such outbreaks cannot give a true picture of the general problem, and the value of any counter-measures which may have been introduced is not easily assessed.A pilot study, carried out in a large dermatology department, revealed an ideal model for the planned, long-term investigation of hospital infection (Selwyn, 1963). An endemic situation was uncovered in which the extensive skin lesions of in-patients were readily colonized by the abundant pathogenic bacteria present in the environment. Many of the infected patients became in their turn prolific dispersers of pathogens. A detailed study of these processes was facilitated by the long periods of hospital treatment which many patients with skin diseases require. Further work was therefore carried out in this neglected field to investigate the dynamic relationship which exists between the bacterial flora of these patients and that of their environment. The effect of simple anti-bacterial measures upon this relationship was also studied during two of the four stages of the investigation. The principal aim here was to assess the relative importance of nasal carriers and patients with infected lesions in the aetiology of hospital infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sampling proceduresThe investigation was carried out over a 2-year period in three dermatological wards. These are housed in a relatively modern pavilion, within a large teaching hospital. The two main wards, situated on different floors, are 68 ft. long, 28 ft. wide and 12 ft. high; each contains sixteen beds. The third ward, containing eight beds, is 32 ft. long; the width and height are as in the main wards.The degree of bacterial contamination was measured on two days of the week at representative sites in each ward, and in the adjacent day-room and bathroom. Air counts were performed with pairs of 3-5 in. Petri dishes containing blood agar and 7 5 % salt-milk agar respectively. These were exposed for 2 hr. periods as 'settle plates' and during each period similar plates were exposed in a 'Casella' slit sampler (but this could not be operated in the bathrooms). Solid surfaces were examined by contact-transfer using self-adhesive cellulose tape in a similar manner to that used by Thomas (1961) for swabbing skin. Direct impressions

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The mechanism and prevention of cross-infection in dermatological wards

Selwyn

1965

J. Hyg.

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“…Therefore, a YF A or YF S host can be infected with bacteria at rate of δ FA ×λ B or δ FS ×λ B , correspondingly, where δ FS and δ FA are constants ≥1 and λ B is the sum of the products of the proportions of colonized hosts and the corresponding transmission rate constants (see Appendix S1 for the equations). We also assume that co-infected hosts can transmit bacteria more efficiently than influenza – free hosts [18], [19], [20], [21]. For example, co-infected hosts with symptomatic influenza (YBF S and YF S B) can transmit bacteria with a transmission rate constant σ FS ×β B (σ FS ≥1).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Anticipated Severity of a “1918-Like” Influenza Pandemic in Contemporary Populations: The Contribution of Antibacterial Interventions

2012

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Recent studies have shown that most of deaths in the 1918 influenza pandemic were caused by secondary bacterial infections, primarily pneumococcal pneumonia. Given the availability of antibiotics and pneumococcal vaccination, how will contemporary populations fare when they are next confronted with pandemic influenza due to a virus with the transmissibility and virulence of that of 1918? To address this question we use a mathematical model and computer simulations. Our model considers the epidemiology of both the influenza virus and pneumonia-causing bacteria and allows for co-infection by these two agents as well as antibiotic treatment, prophylaxis and pneumococcal vaccination. For our simulations we use influenza transmission and virulence parameters estimated from 1918 pandemic data. We explore the anticipated rates of secondary pneumococcal pneumonia and death in populations with different prevalence of pneumococcal carriage and contributions of antibiotic prophylaxis, treatment, and vaccination to these rates. Our analysis predicts that in countries with lower prevalence of pneumococcal carriage and access to antibiotics and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, there would substantially fewer deaths due to pneumonia in contemporary populations confronted with a 1918-like virus than that observed in the 1918. Our results also predict that if the pneumococcal carriage prevalence is less than 40%, the positive effects of antibiotic prophylaxis and treatment would be manifest primarily at of level of individuals. These antibiotic interventions would have little effect on the incidence of pneumonia in the population at large. We conclude with the recommendation that pandemic preparedness plans should consider co-infection with and the prevalence of carriage of pneumococci and other bacteria responsible for pneumonia. While antibiotics and vaccines will certainly reduce the rate of individual mortality, the factor contributing most to the relatively lower anticipated lethality of a pandemic with a 1918-like influenza virus in contemporary population is the lower prevalence of pneumococcal carriage.

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“…In addition, contamination is not limited to environmental surfaces. Infectious agents are transmitted via aerial droplet cloud, 7,8 which could spatially or three-dimensionally enhance the colonization pressure and further spread infectious agents.…”

Section: A Formula For Infection Control Using Colonization Pressure mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Formula for Infection Control Using Colonization Pressure and Compliance Rates

Kono

2014

Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol.

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The "Cloud Baby": An Example of Bacterial-Viral Interaction

Cited by 70 publications

References 7 publications

The mechanism and prevention of cross-infection in dermatological wards

The mechanism and prevention of cross-infection in dermatological wards

The Anticipated Severity of a “1918-Like” Influenza Pandemic in Contemporary Populations: The Contribution of Antibacterial Interventions

A Formula for Infection Control Using Colonization Pressure and Compliance Rates

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