The spread of infantile gastro-enteritis in a cubicled ward
- 1 June 1951
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Epidemiology and Infection
- Vol. 49 (2-3) , 140-151
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s002217240004403x
Abstract
The type strains ofBact. coli, described by Bray (1945), Giles & Sangster (1948), Gileset al.(1949), Tayloret al.(1949), Smith (1949) and Rogers (1951b), because of their very intimate association with epidemic infantile gastro-enteritis, have been used as indicator organisms to show that the method of cross-infection of epidemic gastro-enteritis is very like that of the cross-infection of burns.It has been shown how a cubicle becomes widely contaminated within 18 hr. and that type strains ofBact. coliwill remain viable in dust for at least 27 days. Communal articles used throughout a ward are blamed for the inter-cubicle spread in a divided ward.The intimate association of the α- and β-types ofBact. coliwith outbreaks of gastro-enteritis is demonstrated, and figures are given to show how these outbreaks prolong the patient's stay in hospital and waste valuable hospital space.Keywords
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