Surgical Wound Infection in a Thoracic Disease Hospital

In recent years much has been written regarding the occurrence of staphylococcal infections in various institutions. Whether this is due to increased awareness or to an actual increase is difficult to estimate. Whatever the incidence, it cannot be denied that epidemics of infection have occurred in a number of hospitals; and it is the purpose of this communication to report such an epidemic together with the corrective measures and bacteriological data.

Ray Brook State Tuberculosis Hospital is situated in a relatively isolated part of the Adirondack Mountains. It accommodates an approximate census of 300 patients, who are drawn principally from the northern counties of New York State and New York City. Surgery is principally thoracic for pulmonary tuberculosis, pulmonary resection being the most commonly performed procedure. Other surgery, including abdominal and orthopedic, is performed when necessary, but such procedures are relatively few. With few exceptions the surgery is performed by