[Ways of microbial contamination in hospital and their importance for hospital infection (authors transl)].

Transmission of micro-organisms in hospitals may occur by the air as well as by direct or indirect contact with infected patients and through germ reservoirs where an additional multiplication of germs takes place. Depending on the kind of infections of the respiratory system, germs are mainly transmitted by the air. Sources of germs are, besides people, mainly medicotechnical equipment, as for instance cold atomisation devices for inhalation. In case of wound infections, smear infections do have the greatest share, however, there are also transmissions by air. Urinary tract infections mainly follow contact infections. The same is true for infections via catheters and similar devices or for infections of the gastrointestinal tract.