RT Journal
A1 ROBERTSON E, DOYLE M, TISDALL FF, KOLLER LR, WARD FS
T1 AIr contamination and air sterilization
JF American Journal of Diseases of Children
JO American Journal of Diseases of Children
YR 1939
FD November 1
VO 58
IS 5
SP 1023
OP 1038
DO 10.1001/archpedi.1939.01990100105010
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.1939.01990100105010
AB If secondary infections could be avoided in hospital wards, both the patients and the hospital would be greatly benefited. Until a few years ago, these infections were thought to be carried either by the attendants' hands or by droplets coughed out by the patients. Such droplets travel only a few feet, and sufficient space between the beds would control this mode of spread. However, the work of W. F. Wells and M. W. Wells1 has shown that bacteria in very small particles, or "nuclei," can remain suspended in the air for two or three days, and this strongly suggests that air-borne bacteria may play a part in the spread of disease in the wards.That ultraviolet lamps can be used to kill air-borne bacteria has been demonstrated by several investigators. For example, Hart2 reported that when he operated under a battery of eight tubular ultraviolet lamps, the wounds