Infection issues

I WRITE with regards to Dennis Grattan’s letter (12 May) on hospital hygiene and the suggestion that visitors should be asked to wash their hands before going on wards. As a former hospital microbiologist, may I explain that the problems with hospital infection control and hygiene are cross-infection from other patients and from the hospital environment. It is mainly the staff who transmit infection between patients; visitors very rarely bring significant infections into hospitals.

(Dr) Henry J Black

Station Road

Corstorphine, Edinburgh