STAPHYLOCOCCAL COLONIZATION IN A NEWBORN NURSERY, 1971-1976

Rates of colonization by Staphylococcus aureus were determined for 9515 infants admitted to the nursery of a general hospital during a six-year period (1971-1976). The mean colonization rate from 1971 through 1974 was 14%. Analysis of variance of data for this time period revealed no significant change in colonization rates following discontinuation of hexa-chlorophene bathing of infants in January 1972. Also, there were no consistent phage types present nor changes in the number of phage typable staphylococci during this period (1971-1974). During 1975 and 1976, S. aureus phage type 95 became endemic and accounted for 74% of colonization due to S. aureus. This was accompanied by a significant Increase in colonization rates in 1975 and 1976 (29% and 25%, respectively). Anterior nares cultures of the mothers and of the nursing personnel, umbilical cord cultures of the infants at the time of admission, and of the bath water following admission bathing, and of fomites within the nursery excluded these potential reservoirs as the cause of the high colonization rates. The primary reservoir of staphylococci was apparently the infants themselves and the postulated method of spread was hand carriage from infant to infant. The origin of the organism in the infant population was not determined. Either triple dye or bacitracin ointment applied to the umbilical cords of the infants was effective in reducing colonization rates during this period of endemic spread. © 1979 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health.