0
December 16, 1944, Vol 126, No. 16 >
Other Articles | December 16, 1944

A STUDY OF THE NATURE AND CONTROL OF AIR-BORNE INFECTION IN ARMY CAMPS

O. H. ROBERTSON, M.D.; MORTON HAMBURGER, Jr., M.D.CAPTAIN ; CLAYTON G. LOOSLI; THEODORE T. PUCK, Ph.D.LIEUTENANT ; HENRY M. LEMON; HENRY WISE, S.M.
[+] Author Affiliations

Wholehearted cooperation was extended by many medical and line officers in the army camps in which these studies were conducted.

Read before the Section on Experimental Medicine and Therapeutics at the Ninety-Fourth Annual Session of the American Medical Association, Chicago, June 14, 1944.


CHICAGO; MEDICAL CORPS, ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES; CHICAGO; MEDICAL CORPS, ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES; CHICAGO

From the Department of Medicine, the Douglas Smith Foundation for Medical Research and the Bartlett Memorial Fund of the University of Chicago, and from the Commission on Air-Borne Infections, Board for the Investigation and Control of Influenza and Other Epidemic Diseases in the Army, Preventive Medicine Service, Office of the Surgeon General, U. S. Army.


JAMA. 1944;126(16):993-1000. doi:10.1001/jama.1944.02850510001001
Text Size: A A A
Published online
Article
References

The study of air-borne infection is of relatively recent origin. Several circumstances in particular have accelerated investigation in this field during the past two to three years, namely the development of more efficient and quantitative methods for recovering bacteria from the air, progress in methods of aerial disinfection and the war. The fact that between one third and one half of all illness in army camps is caused by diseases of the respiratory tract coupled with the lack of any effective measures for reducing the incidence of such diseases indicated the urgency of intensive study of this problem in the Army. Before the war began, a number of special commissions were set up under the Board for the Investigation and Control of Influenza and Other Epidemic Diseases, Preventive Medicine Service, Office of the Surgeon General, U. S. Army. Certain of these commissions were assigned to study different specific diseases of

REFERENCES

1 +
Previously designated as the Commission on Cross Infections in Hospitals.
2 +
Much of the unpublished work of the commission is referred to in various parts of the paper. These observations will be reported later in full by the various members of the group.
3 +
Jennison's 4 stroboscopic photographs show that the relative numbers of droplets produced by these activities is in the order named. Sneezing is by far the most productive of aerial contamination. Most of the droplets, however, leave by way of the mouth.
4 +
Jennison, M. W.:  Atomizing of Mouth and Nose Secretions into the Air as Revealed by High Speed Photography , in Moulton, F. R.: Aerobiology , Publication 17, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1941;, pp. 106-128.
5 +
Hare, R.:  The Expulsion of Hemolytic Streptococci by Nasopharyngeal Carriers , Canad. Pub. Health T. 31: 539-555, 1940;.
6 +
Wells, W. F.:  Air-Borne Infection: II. Droplets and Droplet Nuclei , Am. J. Hyg. 20:611-618, 1934;.
7 +
Van den Ende, M.; Lush, D., and Edward, D. G. F.:  Reduction of Dust Borne Bacteria by Treating Floors , Lancet 2: 133-134, 1940;.
8 +
Thomas, Thomas, J. C., and Van den Ende, M.:  The Reduction of Dust Borne Bacteria in the Air of Hospital Wards by Liquid Paraffin Treatment of Bedclothes , Brit. M. J. 1: 953-958, 1941;.
9 +
Willits, R. E., and Hare, R.:  The Mechanism of Cross Infection of Wounds in Hospitals by Hemolytic Streptococci , Canad. M. A. J. 45:479-488, 1941;.
10 +
Moulton, S.; Puck, T. T., and Lemon, H. M.:  An Apparatus for Determination of the Bacterial Content of Air , Science 97:51-52, 1943;.
11 +
Lemon, H. M.:  A Method for Collection of Bacteria from Air and Textiles , Proc. Soc. Exper. Biol. & Med. 54:298-301, 1943;.
12 +
Lemon, H. M., and Wise, H.:  A Flowmeter for Use in Air Sampling Procedures , Science 99:43-44, 1944;.
13 +
Hamburger, M.; Puck, T. T.; Hamburger, V. G., and Johnson, M. A.:  Studies on the Transmission of Hemolytic Streptococcus Infections: III. Hemolytic Streptococci in the Air, Floor Dust and Bedclothes of Hospital Wards and Their Relation to Cross Infections , J. Infect. Dis. 75: 71-78, 1944;.
14 +
Lemon, H. M.; Wise, H., and Hamburger, M., Jr.:  The Bacterial Content of Air in Army Barracks with Especial Reference to the Dispersion of Bacteria by the Air Circulation System , War Med. 6: 92-101 ( (Aug.) ) 1944;.
15 +
Loosli, C. G.; Robertson, O. H., and Puck, T. T.:  The Production of Experimental Influenza in Mice by Inhalation of Atmospheres Containing Influenza Virus Dispersed as Fine Droplets , J. Infect. Dis. 72: 142-153, 1943;.
16 +
Hamburger, M., Jr.:  Studies on the Transmission of Hemolytic Streptococcus Infections: I. Cross Infection in Army Hospital Wards , J. Infect. Dis. 75:58-70, 1944;.
17 +
Robertson, O. H.:  Air-Borne Infection , Science 97:495-502, 1943;.
18 +
Buchbinder, L.; Solowey, M., and Phelps, E.:  Studies on Micro-Organisms in Simulated Room Environments: III. The Survival Rates of Streptococci in the Presence of Natural, Daylight and Sunlight, and Artificial Illumination , J. Bact. 42: 353-366, 1941;.
19 +
Enders, S. F., and Shaffer, M. F.:  Studies on Natural Immunity to Pneumococcus Type III: I. The Capacity of Strains of Pneumococcus Type III to Grow at 41 C. and Their Virulence for Rabbits , J. Exper. Med. 64:7-18, 1936;.
20 +
Robertson, O. H.: Sterilization of Air with Glycol Vapors, in Harvey Lectures, 1942-1943 , Baltimore, Williams & Wilkins Company, 1943;, vol. 38, pp. 227-254.
21 +
Loosli, C. G.; Lemon, H. M.; Robertson, O. H., and Appel, E.:  Experimental Air-Borne Infection: I. Influence of Humidity on Survival of Virus in Air , Proc. Soc. Exper. Biol. & Med. 53:205-206, 1943;.
22 +
Loosli, C. G.; Appel, E.; Robertson, O. H., and Lemon, H. M.: The Influence of Humidity on the Survival of Influenza Virus in the Air and Dust, to be published.
23 +
A synthetic detergent manufactured by the Ninol Laboratories, Chicago.
24 +
The commercial form of Zephiran, supplied by the Alba Pharmaceutical Company, New York.
25 +
Van den Ende, Lush and Edward.7 Thomas and Van den Ende.7
26 +
This is a modification of an emulsion described by the Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Corporation.
27 +
While this emulsion has been the one principally used in our study and many thousands of bedclothes have been treated by this means with satisfactory results, we have found that certain difficulties may be encountered in its routine use in laundry procedures. For this reason we are testing other emulsions which give promise of eliminating these difficulties. Details of this subject, together with an account of the laundry procedures involved in oiling bedclothes, will be published.
28 +
Dr. Lyman J. Briggs, director of the National Bureau of Standards, and Mr. S. H. Ingberg, chief of the Fire Resistance Section, made these studies.
29 +
Robertson, O. H.; Bigg, E.; Puck, T. T., and Miller, B. F.:  The Bactericidal Action of Propylene Glycol Vapor on Micro-Organisms Suspended in Air: I. , J. Exper. Med. 75: 593-610, 1942;.
30 +
Puck, T. T.; Robertson, O. H., and Lemon, H. M.:  The Bactericidal Action of Propylene Glycol Vapor on Micro-Organisms Suspended in Air: II. The Influence of Various Factors on the Activity of the Vapor , J. Exper. Med. 78: 387-406, 1943;.
31 +
One has been made by the Research Corporation of New York and the other by Drs. Bigg and Jennings of the Technological Institute of Northwestern University.
32 +
Puck, T.; Wise, H., and Robertson, O. H.:  A Device for Automatically Controlling the Concentration of Glycol Vapors in the Air , J. Exper. Med. 80:377-381, 1944;.
33 +
Harris, T. N., and Stokes, J., Jr.:  Air-Borne Cross Infection in Case of Common Cold: Further Clinical Study of Use of Glycol Vapors for Air Sterilization , Am. J. M. Sc. 206: 631-636, 1943;.
34 +
Dudley, S. F.: The Schick Test, Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever, Medical Research Council, Special Report Series, no. 75, London, His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1923
35 +
The Spread of "Droplet Infection" in Semi-Isolated Communities , Medical Research Council, Special Report Series, no (111) , 1926;.
36 +
Krueger, A. P., and others:  Laboratory and Field Studies of Glycols and Floor-Oiling in the Control of Air-Borne Bacteria , U. S. Nav. M. Bull. 42:1288-1308, 1944;.
37 +
Feasby, W. R., and Bynoe, E. T.:  Survey of Hemolytic Streptococcus Infections at Camp Borden, Ontario, 1943: I. Epidemiology , War Med. 5:207-215 ( (April) ) 1944;.
38 +
Harwood, F. C.; Ponney, J., and Edwards, C. W.: Brit. M. J. 1:615, 1944;.
39 +
Wright, J.; Cruickshank, R., and Gunn, W., Brit. M. J. 1944;1, p. 611.

First Page Preview

First page PDF preview

Figures

Tables

Interactive Graphics

Video

Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

1 +
Previously designated as the Commission on Cross Infections in Hospitals.
2 +
Much of the unpublished work of the commission is referred to in various parts of the paper. These observations will be reported later in full by the various members of the group.
3 +
Jennison's 4 stroboscopic photographs show that the relative numbers of droplets produced by these activities is in the order named. Sneezing is by far the most productive of aerial contamination. Most of the droplets, however, leave by way of the mouth.
4 +
Jennison, M. W.:  Atomizing of Mouth and Nose Secretions into the Air as Revealed by High Speed Photography , in Moulton, F. R.: Aerobiology , Publication 17, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1941;, pp. 106-128.
5 +
Hare, R.:  The Expulsion of Hemolytic Streptococci by Nasopharyngeal Carriers , Canad. Pub. Health T. 31: 539-555, 1940;.
6 +
Wells, W. F.:  Air-Borne Infection: II. Droplets and Droplet Nuclei , Am. J. Hyg. 20:611-618, 1934;.
7 +
Van den Ende, M.; Lush, D., and Edward, D. G. F.:  Reduction of Dust Borne Bacteria by Treating Floors , Lancet 2: 133-134, 1940;.
8 +
Thomas, Thomas, J. C., and Van den Ende, M.:  The Reduction of Dust Borne Bacteria in the Air of Hospital Wards by Liquid Paraffin Treatment of Bedclothes , Brit. M. J. 1: 953-958, 1941;.
9 +
Willits, R. E., and Hare, R.:  The Mechanism of Cross Infection of Wounds in Hospitals by Hemolytic Streptococci , Canad. M. A. J. 45:479-488, 1941;.
10 +
Moulton, S.; Puck, T. T., and Lemon, H. M.:  An Apparatus for Determination of the Bacterial Content of Air , Science 97:51-52, 1943;.
11 +
Lemon, H. M.:  A Method for Collection of Bacteria from Air and Textiles , Proc. Soc. Exper. Biol. & Med. 54:298-301, 1943;.
12 +
Lemon, H. M., and Wise, H.:  A Flowmeter for Use in Air Sampling Procedures , Science 99:43-44, 1944;.
13 +
Hamburger, M.; Puck, T. T.; Hamburger, V. G., and Johnson, M. A.:  Studies on the Transmission of Hemolytic Streptococcus Infections: III. Hemolytic Streptococci in the Air, Floor Dust and Bedclothes of Hospital Wards and Their Relation to Cross Infections , J. Infect. Dis. 75: 71-78, 1944;.
14 +
Lemon, H. M.; Wise, H., and Hamburger, M., Jr.:  The Bacterial Content of Air in Army Barracks with Especial Reference to the Dispersion of Bacteria by the Air Circulation System , War Med. 6: 92-101 ( (Aug.) ) 1944;.
15 +
Loosli, C. G.; Robertson, O. H., and Puck, T. T.:  The Production of Experimental Influenza in Mice by Inhalation of Atmospheres Containing Influenza Virus Dispersed as Fine Droplets , J. Infect. Dis. 72: 142-153, 1943;.
16 +
Hamburger, M., Jr.:  Studies on the Transmission of Hemolytic Streptococcus Infections: I. Cross Infection in Army Hospital Wards , J. Infect. Dis. 75:58-70, 1944;.
17 +
Robertson, O. H.:  Air-Borne Infection , Science 97:495-502, 1943;.
18 +
Buchbinder, L.; Solowey, M., and Phelps, E.:  Studies on Micro-Organisms in Simulated Room Environments: III. The Survival Rates of Streptococci in the Presence of Natural, Daylight and Sunlight, and Artificial Illumination , J. Bact. 42: 353-366, 1941;.
19 +
Enders, S. F., and Shaffer, M. F.:  Studies on Natural Immunity to Pneumococcus Type III: I. The Capacity of Strains of Pneumococcus Type III to Grow at 41 C. and Their Virulence for Rabbits , J. Exper. Med. 64:7-18, 1936;.
20 +
Robertson, O. H.: Sterilization of Air with Glycol Vapors, in Harvey Lectures, 1942-1943 , Baltimore, Williams & Wilkins Company, 1943;, vol. 38, pp. 227-254.
21 +
Loosli, C. G.; Lemon, H. M.; Robertson, O. H., and Appel, E.:  Experimental Air-Borne Infection: I. Influence of Humidity on Survival of Virus in Air , Proc. Soc. Exper. Biol. & Med. 53:205-206, 1943;.
22 +
Loosli, C. G.; Appel, E.; Robertson, O. H., and Lemon, H. M.: The Influence of Humidity on the Survival of Influenza Virus in the Air and Dust, to be published.
23 +
A synthetic detergent manufactured by the Ninol Laboratories, Chicago.
24 +
The commercial form of Zephiran, supplied by the Alba Pharmaceutical Company, New York.
25 +
Van den Ende, Lush and Edward.7 Thomas and Van den Ende.7
26 +
This is a modification of an emulsion described by the Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Corporation.
27 +
While this emulsion has been the one principally used in our study and many thousands of bedclothes have been treated by this means with satisfactory results, we have found that certain difficulties may be encountered in its routine use in laundry procedures. For this reason we are testing other emulsions which give promise of eliminating these difficulties. Details of this subject, together with an account of the laundry procedures involved in oiling bedclothes, will be published.
28 +
Dr. Lyman J. Briggs, director of the National Bureau of Standards, and Mr. S. H. Ingberg, chief of the Fire Resistance Section, made these studies.
29 +
Robertson, O. H.; Bigg, E.; Puck, T. T., and Miller, B. F.:  The Bactericidal Action of Propylene Glycol Vapor on Micro-Organisms Suspended in Air: I. , J. Exper. Med. 75: 593-610, 1942;.
30 +
Puck, T. T.; Robertson, O. H., and Lemon, H. M.:  The Bactericidal Action of Propylene Glycol Vapor on Micro-Organisms Suspended in Air: II. The Influence of Various Factors on the Activity of the Vapor , J. Exper. Med. 78: 387-406, 1943;.
31 +
One has been made by the Research Corporation of New York and the other by Drs. Bigg and Jennings of the Technological Institute of Northwestern University.
32 +
Puck, T.; Wise, H., and Robertson, O. H.:  A Device for Automatically Controlling the Concentration of Glycol Vapors in the Air , J. Exper. Med. 80:377-381, 1944;.
33 +
Harris, T. N., and Stokes, J., Jr.:  Air-Borne Cross Infection in Case of Common Cold: Further Clinical Study of Use of Glycol Vapors for Air Sterilization , Am. J. M. Sc. 206: 631-636, 1943;.
34 +
Dudley, S. F.: The Schick Test, Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever, Medical Research Council, Special Report Series, no. 75, London, His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1923
35 +
The Spread of "Droplet Infection" in Semi-Isolated Communities , Medical Research Council, Special Report Series, no (111) , 1926;.
36 +
Krueger, A. P., and others:  Laboratory and Field Studies of Glycols and Floor-Oiling in the Control of Air-Borne Bacteria , U. S. Nav. M. Bull. 42:1288-1308, 1944;.
37 +
Feasby, W. R., and Bynoe, E. T.:  Survey of Hemolytic Streptococcus Infections at Camp Borden, Ontario, 1943: I. Epidemiology , War Med. 5:207-215 ( (April) ) 1944;.
38 +
Harwood, F. C.; Ponney, J., and Edwards, C. W.: Brit. M. J. 1:615, 1944;.
39 +
Wright, J.; Cruickshank, R., and Gunn, W., Brit. M. J. 1944;1, p. 611.

Letters

Submit a Letter
CME Course for:


You need to register in order to view this quiz.


To understand the clinical management of acute heart failure syndromes.
Accreditation Information The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The AMA designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM per course. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Physicians who complete the CME course and score at least 80% correct on the quiz are eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM.
Note: You must get at least of the answers correct to pass this quiz.
Note: You must get at least of the answers correct to pass this quiz.
You have not filled in all the answers to complete this quiz
The following questions were not answered:
Sorry, you have unsuccessfully completed this CME quiz with a score of
The following questions were not answered correctly:
For CME Course: A Proposed Model for Initial Assessment and Management of Acute Heart Failure Syndromes
Indicate what changes(s) you will implement in your practice, if any, based on this CME course.
To view and print your certificate and access a summary of your CME courses go to My CME.
NOTE:
Citing articles are presented as examples only. In non-demo SCM6 implementation, integration with CrossRef’s “Cited By” API will populate this tab (http://www.crossref.org/citedby.html).
Compression-Only CPR: Pushing the Science Forward
Cone
AAM 2010;304:1493-1495.
All you need to read in the other general journals
BMJ 2010;341:c5893-c1494.
Submit a Response

Some tools below are only available to our subscribers or users with an online account.

Related Content

Customize your page view by dragging & repositioning the boxes below.

© 2012 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
Powered bySilverchair Information Systems