| Lidwell 1971 |
CCT; 2 parallel groups. |
DESCRIPTION: 3327 patient‐weeks were analysed. Participants were in‐patients on one of two medical wards in the UK.
NUMBERS: Open wards = 2750 patient‐weeks, Closed single rooms = 577 patient‐weeks.
AGE: under 60 years = 57%, Over 60 years = 43%.
GENDER: not described.
ETHNICITY: not described.
INCLUSION CRITERIA: not described.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA: not described. |
OPEN WARD: Two identical wards each containing 6 four‐bed rooms, which opened up on to the corridor. The four‐bed rooms each had three proper walls with the fourth side being open to the corridor except for low dividing walls (3 ft.) on each side of the entrance.
SINGLE‐BED ROOMS: The same two wards as above each had five single rooms, each proper rooms with four walls to divide them from the rest of the ward. There was no mechanical ventilation in these rooms. |
PATIENT NASAL AQUISITION OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS: A nasal swab was taken from patients as soon as possible after arriving on the ward (within 3 days). Subsequently a swab was taken from each patient on a set day of the week.
STAFF NASAL AQUISITION: Not included in review.
AIR CONTAMINATION: Not included in review. |
Ratio of nasal carriage rates in single rooms to 4‐bed bays:
All strains = 1:2
Tetracycline resistant strains = 1:4
Ratio of nasal acquisition rates in single rooms to 4‐bed bays:
All strains = 1:1
Tetracycline resistant strains = 1:3 |
