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Observations on ‘hospital infection’ in a plastic surgery ward

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

E. T. C. Spooner
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Over a period of 6 months, wounds and throats in a plastic surgery ward were swabbed. Haemolytic streptococci obtained from them were typed by the late Dr F. Griffith and his staff at the M.E.C. Streptococcal Research Laboratory. 65% or more of the wounds in the ward were found to be infected with Streptococcus pyogenes, but relatively few suffered severe damage as a result of their infection.

About a quarter of the cases admitted to the ward acquired streptococcal wound infections while in the ward. Two wound and throat epidemics, one due to type 13 and one to type 4/24 streptococci are described.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 41 , Issue 3 , November 1941 , pp. 320 - 329
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1941

References

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