01963nas a2200361   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001200055653002500067653001200092653003300104653002600137653002000163653001500183653002200198653002300220653002000243653002600263653002600289653002600315653002600341653002600367653001100393653001200404653001100416653003000427100001500457245005300472300001100525490000800536520104300544022001401587       1985                            d  c1985 Feb10aAnimals10aBacterial Infections10aCholera10aCommunicable Disease Control10aCommunicable Diseases10aCross Infection10aDiphtheria10aDisease Outbreaks10aDisease Reservoirs10aDisease Vectors10aHistory, 16th Century10aHistory, 17th Century10aHistory, 18th Century10aHistory, 19th Century10aHistory, 20th Century10aHumans10aleprosy10aPlague10aStaphylococcal Infections1 aPulverer G00a[History of the changes in infectious diseases].  a97-1060 v1803 a<p>The spectrum of infectious diseases is not at all constant, it changes. This statement is relevant for the great epidemics as well as for nosocomial infections and simple infectious processes. The epidemiological situation of plague, lepra, cholera and diphtheria is discussed. As concerns nosocomial infections four periods are separated: the time before Semmelweis and Lister, the period of the introduction of antiseptic/aseptic measurements to the hospitals and the chemotherapy-time (period until 1965) and the time afterwards. The spectrum of nosocomial infections and its changes as observed in the Cologne area are presented. But also the types of a certain bacterial species are changing as discussed on the example of S. aureus phagetype 80/81. As far as known factors involved in these changes are mentioned. The increasing use of plastic materials in medicine (i.e. intravenous catheters, Spitz-Holtershunts, hipps, valves, etcetera) is the cause of infectious complications, S. epidermidis being the dominant organism.</p>  a0174-3015