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37
In the following three instances Hospital infection is
possible : —
1. Scarlet Fever patient discharged from the Hospital
on March 15th; sister notified of Diphtheria on April 5th.
2. Scarlet Fever patient discharged from the Hospital
on October 2nd; brother notified of Diphtheria on
November 14th.
3. Scarlet Fever patient discharged from the Hospital
on October 2nd; a child living in the same house notified
of Diphtheria on October 25th.
In view of the possibility of hospital infection the throats
of the Scarlet Fever patients were swabbed on admission and
prior to their discharge. As a result it was found that two of
the children suffering from Scarlet Fever harboured also the
germs of Diphtheria on their admission to the Hospital. It is
interesting to note, though, that the instances where Diphtheria
followed Scarlet Fever were more numerous amongst the cases
who were nursed at home. Four children notified of Scarlet
Fever during the first quarter of the year subsequently
developed Diphtheria. The intervals between the receipt of
the notifications of Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria were seven
months, eight months and ten months respectively.
In the other three cases it was another member of the
family that developed Diphtheria.
1. Scarlet Fever notified on March 15th; sister notified
of Diphtheria on March 22nd.
2. Scarlet Fever notified on June 1st; sister notified of
Diphtheria on August 6th.
3. Scarlet Fever notified on March 29th; brother notified
of Diphtheria on May 19th.
The question is naturally asked are Scarlet Fever and
Diphtheria interchangeable, or are they distinct diseases. Dr.