Organisms and their Sensitivities among Hospital Patients

Abstract

Routine reports of bacterial isolations have been reviewed for two 3- month periods during 1963 and 1967. Changes in the pattern of infections, and in the antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus pyogenes and coliform strains have been noted. Of particular interest is the increase in the incidence of chloramphenicol resistant coliform strains obtained from in-patient samples. The suggestion is made that this increase may be due to the emergence of R-factor containing organisms, with conjugal transmission of resistance-determining genes to sensitive coliform strains, and maintenance of the resistant bacterial population by selection pressure exerted by widespread use of antibiotics within the hospital.