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8
Leaflets describing the essential points of home nursing of
persons suffering from infections, and advice as to disinfection are
provided when necessary.
Disinfection.
In recent years far more importance has been attached to the
role of the sick person, convalescent, and healthy carrier in the
spread of disease—and far less to transmission of disease by
inaminate objects. Recent contamination by a sufferer, however,
does render these objects infectious for some time and it is therefore
of great importance to disinfect all crockery, utensils, handkerchiefs
and dejecta by boiling, burning or by use of chemicals as may be
appropriate. Library books are disinfected where necessary by
the Public Health Department.
Terminal disinfection of rooms, bedding and blankets is not
usually required after the common childhood diseases. A thorough
spring clean with generous use of soap and water is now considered
adequate.
In certain exceptional cases, such as smallpox, typhoid and
tuberculosis, terminal fumigation may still be required and this can
be carried out by the staff of the department.
Hospitalisation.
Persons suffering from certain severe infectious conditions may
need hospital care and can be admitted to Neasden Isolation
Hospital or to South Middlesex Hospital, Mogden.
Laboratory Service.
In many cases of diarrhoeal disease exact diagnosis can only
be made by the examination of specimens of faeces or blood. In
addition, in cases of food poisoning in which vomiting is a prominent
symptom, samples of suspected food or vomited material
should be retained wherever possible. These, if examined in the
laboratory may not only reveal the identity of the causitive organism
but may also help to trace the source of the infection. The Public
Health Department will arrange for the collection of specimens and
transmission to the King Edward Memorial Hospital laboratory at
the request of a general practitioner.
A stock of nose and throat swabs for the diagnosis of diphtheria
and pertussis is available at the Town Hall for the use of general
practitioners.
Food handlers and other persons whose work entails a special
responsibility to the public often require bacteriological proof of
freedom from infection before returning to work after illness, and
this may also be required from children before entry to residential
schools or hostels.