A bacteriological study of the effect on the environment of using a one- or two-trolley system in theatre.

In a survey of 53 hospitals, 62% still had a transfer zone in theatre, involving the use of two trolleys. Reluctance to use one trolley without patient transfer was probably because of concerns about excessive bacterial contamination of the theatre. In an attempt to see if these concerns were justified, air in the operating theatre was sampled for bacterial content, as were the surfaces and wheels of trolleys and the floor in the theatre, anaesthetic room and at the 'red line' in the transfer zone.

An outbreak of Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea in urological practice: a potential consequence of excessive antibiotic prophylaxis?

During an outbreak of Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea, 17 patients on a urological ward developed symptoms in a 17-day period. Of these patients, 15 had received antibiotics during their admission. In order to eradicate the infection, it was necessary to close the unit for 1 month.