Transmission of Streptococcal and Staphylococcal Infections

Article1 May 1964Transmission of Streptococcal and Staphylococcal InfectionsCHARLES H. RAMMELKAMP JR., M.D., F.A.C.P., EDWARD A. MORTIMER JR., M.D., EMANUEL WOLINSKY, M.D.CHARLES H. RAMMELKAMP JR., M.D., F.A.C.P., EDWARD A. MORTIMER JR., M.D., EMANUEL WOLINSKY, M.D.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-60-5-753 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptIn 1955, Colebrook (1), a bacteriologist who had studied infections of burns and wounds during two world wars, reviewed the problem of the transmission and control of hospital-acquired infections. These studies, which included cultures of normal individuals, patients, and various articles in the environment, emphasized that Group A streptococci and pathogenic staphylococci were common inhabitants of the upper respiratory tract of persons, both sick and well. In addition, both organisms were recovered in large numbers from the air, dust, floor, bedding, and clothes in those environments where infections were prevalent. The degree of bacterial contamination of the environment reflected the...References1. COLEBROOK L: Infection acquired in hospital. Lancet 2: 885, 1955. CrossrefGoogle Scholar2. WANNAMAKER LW: The epidemiology of streptococcal infections, in Streptococcal Infections, edited by MCCARTY, M., Columbia University Press, New York, 1954, p. 157. Google Scholar3. PERRYSIEGELRAMMELKAMPWANNAMAKERMARPLE WDACCHLWEC: Transmission of group A streptococci. I. The role of contaminated bedding. Amer. J. Hyg. 66: 85, 1957. MedlineGoogle Scholar4. PERRYSIEGELRAMMELKAMP WDACCH: Transmission of group A streptococci. II. The role of contaminated dust. Ibid., 96. Google Scholar5. RAMMELKAMPMORRISCATANZAROWANNAMAKERCHAMOVITZMARPLE CHAJFJLWREC: Transmission of group A streptococci. III. The effect of drying on the infectivity of the organism for man. J. Hyg. (London) 56: 280, 1958. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. WOLINSKYLIPSITZMORTIMERRAMMELKAMP EPJEACH: Acquisition of staphylococci by newborns. Direct versus indirect transmission. Lancet 2: 620, 1960. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. MORTIMERLIPSITZWOLINSKYGONZAGARAMMELKAMP EAPJEAJCH : Transmission of staphylococci between newborns: importance of the hands of personnel. Amer. J. Dis. Child. 104: 289, 1962. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. GONZAGAMORTIMERWOLINSKYRAMMELKAMP AJEAECH : Transmission of staphylococci by fomites. In preparation. Google Scholar9. MORTIMERWOLINSKYGONZAGARAMMELKAMP EAEAJCH: Airborne transmission of staphylococci. In preparation. Google Scholar10. WALTERKUNDSINBRUBAKER CWRBMM: The incidence of airborne wound infection during operation. JAMA 186: 122, 1963. CrossrefGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: CHARLES H. RAMMELKAMPJR., M.D., F.A.C.P.; EDWARD A. MORTIMERJR., M.D.; EMANUEL WOLINSKY, M.D.Affiliations: Cleveland, OhioFrom the Research Laboratories, Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital, and the Departments of Medicine, Preventive Medicine, Pediatrics and Pathology, Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.Dr. Rammelkamp presented this paper as the James D. Bruce Memorial Lecture at the Forty-fourth Annual Session of the American College of Physicians, Denver, Colorado, April 1-5, 1963.Dr. Mortimer is a Markle Scholar in Medical Science.These investigations were conducted under the sponsorship of the Commission on Streptococcal and Staphylococcal Diseases, Armed Forces Epidemiological Board, and were supported by the Office of the Surgeon General, Department of the Army, Washington, D. C.Requests for reprints should be addressed to Charles H. Rammelkamp, Jr., M.D., Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital, Cuyahoga County Hospitals, 3395 Scranton Road, Cleveland 9, Ohio. 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STEERE, M.D., GEORGE F. MALLISON, M.P.H.Should potential sources of hospital-acquired infections be monitored?Origin of Infection in Acute Nonlymphocytic Leukemia Significance of Hospital Acquisition of Potential PathogensSTEPHEN C. SCHIMPFF, M.D., VIOLA MAE YOUNG, Ph.D., WILLIAM H. GREENE, M.D., GERALD D. VERMEULEN, M.D., MARCIA R. MOODY, M.S., PETER H. WIERNIK, M.D.Streptococcal pneumoniaStaphylococcal infections—Treatment and controlThe Epidemiology of Postoperative Surgical InfectionModern concepts in acute rheumatic fever—A reviewDisinfection of the Hands 1 May 1964Volume 60, Issue 5Page: 753-758KeywordsHospital medicineInfectious disease controlInfectious disease epidemiologyPreventive medicineResearch laboratoriesRespiratory systemStaphylococcal infectionStreptococcal infectionsSurgeonsUpper respiratory tract infections ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 May 1964 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright ©, 1964, by The American College of PhysiciansPDF downloadLoading ...