Serological typing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated by us was performed using the microtiter method which was derived by Takigami and Kaneko. Typing sera were delivered by Homma.
1. 727 (90.8%) out of 801 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated in our hospital were typable. Among them Type 8 was the most predominant type (44.7%) in our hospital, and especially it was remarkably predominant (59.6%) in the pulmonary tuberculosis ward which was separated from the other wards.
Homma reported that Type 5 was encountered most frequently (27.0%) and Type 8 the second (25.6%) all over Japan, then, the distribution of Type 8 in our hospital could be said to show a peculiar pattern.
Type 8 strains were discovered more frequently with statistical significance in patients' specimens (49.2%) than in environmental specimens of our hospital (33.0%).
2. Six patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis and staying in our hospital for a long time had r eservoired the same type cf Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains continuously in their respiratory tracts and intestines, which lasted for about 8-24 months (Permanence of serotypical Pseudomonas monoinfection)
Type 8 from one patient with pulmonary tuberculosis was demonstrated in his respiratory tract and intestine for the first one year and Type 5 was discovered in the same places for the latter one year (Serotypical change of infection)
3. The more moist the environments in the hospital was the more frequently they were contaminated by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, that is, sinks were almost always contaminated and floors and taps were also contaminated in different degree according to the moisture of the rooms. Beds and clothes were rarely contaminated.
Serological investigation showed that Type 8 was disclosed continuously for long periods of time in the environmental specimens of nurse station, but the serotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains originated from the hospital kitchen were variable.
4. In some cases the serotypes of Pseudomonas strains originated from patients specimens and environmental specimens in their hospital rooms were identical and in some cases not identical. Epidemiological significance of both cases was discussed.
5. The moist environments of our hospital staffs' household were found contaminated by Pseudomonas strains so much frequent as the hospital moist environments. The serotypical investigation showed that Type 8 was the most predominant (29.7%) just like in hospital environments (33.0%), but compared with the hospital, especially the hospital kitchen, the distribution of serotypes was of no regularity.
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