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An outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (pyocyanea) infection in a Premature Baby Unit, with observations on the intestinal carriage of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the newborn

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

C. H. Jellard
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory Service and Department of Pathology, Plymouth General Hospital, Greenbank Road, Plymouth
Gillian M. Churcher
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory Service and Department of Pathology, Plymouth General Hospital, Greenbank Road, Plymouth
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An outbreak of infection in a Premature Baby Unit due to a single strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is described. The outbreak lasted for 16 months, during which this organism was isolated from the faeces of 99/418 premature babies, many of them being symptomless carriers. There were seven deaths due to the infection. The source of the epidemic was not found. The main reservoir of infection was the babies' faeces. Though many full-term babies were symptomless carriers of the epidemic strain of Ps. aeruginosa, they were not ill.

Measures for control of the outbreak, and the aetiology of neonatal intestinal infection with Ps. aeruginosa are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1967

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