[The contamination of a hospital with Bacillus cereus without an indication of cases of infection].

A hygienic investigation of a hospital revealed B. cereus in 60.5% (66 out of 109) of swab specimens taken from walls, apparatuses, airing devices and bedclothes. These findings were not associated with evidence of human infection caused by the organism within the hospital. In a similar investigation three weeks later, only 22.5% of the environmental specimens were positive for B. cereus. The hospital contamination with B. cereus has thus been virtually temporary and epidemiologically silent. Considering the potential pathogenicity of the organism however, its presence in the hospital environment cannot be approved of.