An outbreak of post-operative sepsis due to a staphylococcal disperser

Abstract

A staphylococcal disperser employed as a theatre technician appeared to have been the source of 11 cases of wound sepsis over a period of about 3 years. He was primarily a nasal carrier and after attempts to eradicate Staphylococcus aureus from his nose failed, his skin dispersal was controlled by daily washing with 4% chlorhexidine detergent ('Hibiscrub') and he was allowed to resume his theatre duties under careful bacteriological surveillance. Over the following 2 years 173 dispersal tests showed a mean dispersal of 1 . 7 c.f.u. per 2800 l air compared with a mean of 152 c.f.u. per 2800 l air in the mouth immediately preceding treatment and 55 c.f.u. per 2800 l in the period after cessation of treatment. One case of wound sepsis was attributed to the technician during the 2 years in which he received skin disinfection treatment.