BACTERIAL INFECTIONS IN A SKIN DEPARTMENT.

Bacteriological studies on the lesions of 331 skin out-patients revealed a high degree of clinically inapparent infection, especially with Staph. aureus. The level of antibiotic resistance in the strains isolated was high. The incidence of hospital infection with Staph. aurcus in the lesions of 56 in-patients was remarkably high. Autogeneous infection accounted for about one third of the cases. Most of the cross-infection could be traced to patients with extensive infected lesions. The ward environment was heavily contaminated with pathogens. The communal baths and hands of members of staff seemed to be important agents in the spread of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]