Electronic data processing system for the clinical microbiology laboratory

Owing to the increased volume of laboratory services and the shortage of skilled medical microbiologists who presently spend up to 30% of their time in clerical matters, pragmatic applications of electronic sorting techniques and computers should be considered to alleviate this problem. Moreover, surveillance of the hospital community, with particular reference to changing patterns of microbial resistance and the distribution of potentially infectious pathogens, requires detailed information which can be readily supplied by electronic sorting analysis. Mark-sense and prescored Port-A-Punch IBM cards were used to: (i) analyze antibiotic susceptibility data; (ii) tabulate total test loads according to conditions set down by the American Society for Clinical Pathologists; and (iii) to prepare a bacteriological report on the surveillance of hospital infections. After proper sorting and analysis, the cards also serve as a convenient reference file in the laboratory for pertinent information recorded by either blackening the appropriate areas (mark-sense style) or pushing out the preperforated rectangular holes with a simple inexpensive board and stylus (Port-A-Punch). No one scheme can fulfill the requirements of all laboratories or purposes, but ideas contained herein might serve as starting points for the design of similar systems in other laboratories.