[Control of cross infection in intensive care units].

Quantitative determinations of antibiotic susceptibility established that infections occurring in intensive care units were predominantly exogenous cross infections. The most frequently isolated strains were: Klebsiella, Enterobacteriaceae, Serratia marcescens and Proteus mirabilis. The majority of the strains showed multiple resistance. Despite adequate antibiotic therapy a number of patients died of the infection. Many of the methods of disinfection were found to be inadequate, especially as regarded washbasins, face flannels, ultrasound inhalers, respirators and other apparatus. The fact that many of the isolated strains are capable of multiplying in water is not receiving sufficient attention.