Studies on the microbial flora in the air of submarines and the nasopharyngeal flora of the crew

Abstract

SummaryAirborne bacteria surveys in nuclear submarines show that the total microbial load was maintained at satisfactorily low levels during prolonged patrols despite factors which were expected to increase this form of pollution.The isolation rates of Staphylococcus aureus and Neisseria meningitidis from nasal and nasopharyngeal swabs respectively, together with the serum antibody titres to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, before and after patrols suggested that the transmission of these organisms between individuals was not much increased by patrol conditions. The finding of higher numbers of airborne gram-negative rods and bodily contamination by enterobacteria is frequently reported in submersibles but does not appear to cause major outbreaks of illness in nuclear submarine crews.