An outbreak of periporitis staphylogenes of complex origin

During the summer 1971 an outbreak of periporitis staphylogenes occurred among newborn in Horsens Hospital. 23 babies (16 boys and 7 girls) were infected with Staphylococcus aureus resistant to penicillin. Some of them also developed pemphigus neonatorum and sweat gland abscesses. Phage typing of staphylococci from the infected babies indicated, that some had acquired bacteria from the hand-eczema of a midwife and others from a doctor carrying Staphylococcus aureus, in his nose.