Hand Lotions — A Potential Nosocomial Hazard

Abstract

MANY reports describing the increased occurrence of Cram-negative bacterial infection in hospitalized patients have appeared in the past few years.^{1 2 3 4} An annual analysis (Fig. 1) of positive blood cultures at the Saint Vincent Hospital depicts a significant decrease during the past five years in the occurrence of septicemia due to Staphylococcus aureus and an increase due to gram-negative bacteria, particularly Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter (Aerobacter), and Serratia marcescens. The increased total number of blood cultures taken per year is attributed to an additional 140 hospital beds made available in 1965, and the continued emphasis that multiple blood cultures be . . .