Observations on ‘hospital infection’ in a plastic surgery ward

Abstract

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.