Dispersal and transfer of Staphylococcus aureus in an isolation ward for burned patients

The dispersal of Staphylococcus aureus from burned patients, the relation between nasal carriage by the staff and exposure to airborne Staph. aureus, and the transfer of Staph. aureus-carrying particles within the ward have been studied. The dispersal of Staph. aureus from burned patients was correlated to the size of the burn wound. The median values varied from 21 c.f.u./m.(2)/hr. for patients with small burns to 453 c.f.u./m.(2)/hr. for extensively burned patients. The size of the dispersed particles appeared to be smaller than that usually found in hospital wards. Carriage of nasal strains by the staff was correlated to the air counts; the number of patient sources did not seem to be of great importance. The transfer of Staph. aureus within the ward was at least 6 to 20 times that which would have been expected if transfer was due to air movement only.