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Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the general hospital: a six-year survey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

D. M. Harris  and
P. B. Gray
D. M. Harris
Affiliation:
Departments of Bacteriology and Histology, Royal Hospital, Sheffield
P. B. Gray
Affiliation:
Departments of Bacteriology and Histology, Royal Hospital, Sheffield
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Summary

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The incidence of infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa did not increase significantly among general surgical and medical patients between 1967 and 1972, and the majority of such infections were trivial. Serious infections were virtually confined to the intensive care unit and the renal transplant unit, and were usually associated with major trauma, surgical mishap or immunosuppression. The majority of these patients had received prior antibiotic therapy. Persistent isolation of Ps. aeruginosa from surgical wounds was often associated with severe intra-abdominal sepsis, and antibacterial therapy was commonly ineffective in these cases. Apparently susceptible patients did not necessarily acquire infection, though the organism was present in their environment. It is suggested that this may reflect a variation of virulence among environmental strains of Ps. aeruginosa, and that further study of this aspect may contribute to improved control of infection.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 73 , Issue 2 , October 1974 , pp. 249 - 254
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1974

References

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