The Relation between the Nasal-Staphylococcal-Carrier State and the Incidence of Postoperative Complications

INFECTIONS caused by hemolytic, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus have become an increasingly serious and prevalent problem. In many hospitals such infectious complications have assumed prime significance in the etiology of the morbidity and mortality of postoperative patients.1 2 3 4 5 Of the many studies of possible cause- and-effect relations that have been reported, of particular interest have been those dealing with the nasal-carrier state of hospital personnel, the general-hospital patient and the general population in the community.6 7 8 9 The high nasal-carrier state often found among hospital personnel has been suggested as an important factor in the transmission of infections due to the hemolytic staphylococcus, as . . .