Arthropods in a hospital and their potential significance in the epidemiology of hospital infections.

Synanthropic and other arthropods were collected and examined for microbes in the summer seasons of 1988 and 1990. The collection was performed in a Prague hospital with departments situated in separate buildings, each surrounded by a park. In 1988, the most attention was given to flies (35 species collected) found outside between the buildings. In 1990, all arthropods found inside the buildings (particularly in the departments of dermatology and urology) were studied. A total of 30 taxons were identified. The microbes found on the bodies of arthropods were isolated in both seasons. In 1990, the hospital environment and biological material from patients (urine, pus) were also examined for the presence of microbes. Altogether 108 strains (21 species) and 116 strains (25 species) were isolated from the arthropods' bodies in 1988 and 1990, respectively. The ecological characterization of the arthropods and results of microbiological studies show that synanthropic arthropods play a significant role in the epidemiology of hospital infections.