Severe Outbreak of Surgical Sepsis Due to Staphylococcus aureus of Unusual Type and Origin

Abstract

A severe outbreak of staphylococcal infection involving 33 surgical patients in a general hospital is described. Two strains of Staphylococcus aureus were involved phage type 80 (4 cases, no deaths) and phage untypable (77w (1,000 R.T.D.) (29 cases, 4 deaths). An anaesthetist suffering from psoriasis was found to be carrying and disseminating staphylococci of these two strains, which were found to be widely distributed in two operating-theatres. The findings, and the management of the outbreak, are described and discussed. © 1967, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.