ABSTRACT
During the period between October 1984 and January 1985, an outbreak of Serratia marcescens took place in the Serlin Maternity Hospital in Tel-Aviv. Four major and six minor infections were noted in newborn and preterm infants. An additional group of 24 neonates were asymptomatic carriers of S. marcescens. Extensive control measures were undertaken, including closing the SCBU to further admissions and the opening of a new SCBU. Other measures included maintaining babies in cohort groups, strict handwashing, and use of gloves and gowns. There was also intensified encouragement of breast feeding and thorough cleansing and disinfection of the SCBU and nurseries. After 3 months, the outbreak was controlled. No identified source for the outbreak was detected. We feel that the extensive measures employed were responsible for controlling the outbreak within a relatively short time.
Subject(s)
Cross Infection/prevention & control , Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control , Enterobacteriaceae Infections/prevention & control , Hospitals, Maternity , Hospitals, Special , Bacteriological Techniques , Cross Infection/epidemiology , Cross Infection/microbiology , Enterobacteriaceae Infections/epidemiology , Enterobacteriaceae Infections/microbiology , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Infant, Premature, Diseases/epidemiology , Infant, Premature, Diseases/microbiology , Infant, Premature, Diseases/prevention & control , Male , Serratia marcescens/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
Investigation of micturition and drinking habits in urban (n = 475) and rural (n = 156) working populations demonstrated less frequent micturition, decreased fluid intake, and a higher urine concentration in the urban as compared to the rural group. All these differences were significant (P less than .01) by multivariate analysis, adjusting for age and sex differences. Drinking and micturition habits were similar in both sexes, but urine concentration was significantly lower in females (P less than .01) in both the urban and rural groups. Incidence of bladder cancer is reportedly higher in urban versus rural populations and in males versus females, the differences being apparently unaccountable for by differences in smoking, an important risk factor for bladder cancer. Our findings of greater urine concentration and less frequent micturition (which augments urine contact with bladder epithelium) in high-risk groups for bladder cancer are consistent with the "urogenous contact hypothesis." This hypothesis associates the etiology of bladder cancer with prolonged exposure to urine, on the basis of studies indicating carcinogenicity of urine. Further studies should indicate whether frequent drinking and urination are effective preventive measures against bladder cancer.
