The bacteriological status of a specific-pathogen-free animal production building and of its staff and the microbiological integrity of the animals one year after the building was commissioned.

Bacteriological contamination of a specific-pathogen-free (SPF) animal production building was more extensive after one year of operation than at the time of commissioning. Throat and nose swabs taken from the staff yielded a number of undesirable organisms, in particular, on one occasion, a Group A streptococcus. It is recommended that a closer bacteriological scrutiny of the staff of SPF production buildings ought perhaps to be made in the light of these findings.