Pseudomonas Infections

To the Editor.—  An increased incidence of Pseudomonas infections has been reported by Ammonette and Rosenberg¹ and Tomoka et al.² More serious infections are nosocomial, particularly in newborn nurseries.Ammonette and Rosenberg's¹ report indicates that there is "no single or simple therapeutic agent to be regularly effective for a quick cure." The authors note that this clinical problem has not received substantial attention in the dermatologic literature. Tomoka et al² note among other factors that bacteriostatic substances inhibiting the dominant Gram-positive microflora can lead to replacement by Gram-negative microflora, namely Pseudomonas. They observe that there are no organisms within the skin, histopathologic findings of a toxic reaction, and that local application of a dilute solution of chloramphenicol prevented dermatitis in four of five subjects. This suggests that a broad spectrum locally applied microbicide would be useful therapy. Glutaraldehyde is bactericidal, tuberculocidal, fungicidal, sporicidal, and viricidal,