A Social and Occupational Study of the Causes, Cost, and Prevention of Infections of the Hand

Although there are many books and papers dealing with the treatment of hand infections and also with the bacteriology of wound infection and sepsis, little has been published about the social and occu pational aspects of hand infections. In this study the following questions were con sidered : What is the cost of a hand infection, measured in terms of money and working time lost by the patient ? What part do social and occu pational factors play in the origin and development of sepsis ? How can infections of the hand be prevented ? Method