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TrIouca it is becoming well documented in dermatological and bacteriological circles, herpetic infection of the finger due to cross contamination is still a relatively uncommon phenomenon. In 1959 Stern recognized it as a hazard to intensive care personnel. It is hoped that this report will increase the caution of anaesthesia staff who are exposed to infections from respiratory secretions. CASE REPORTFour days after intubating a patient with herpes simplex lesions about her mouth, an anaesthetic resident developed reddened, irritable areas on his index finger and thumb. The areas extended from a torn cuticle and small cut that were present at the time of exposure. The lesions progressed, invading subepiderrnally, and formed blisters (Fig. 1). Although Stavh. Aureus was cultured from the FmtraE 1. The herpetic lesions on the finger. lesions and they began to appear pustular, the draining fluid remained clear and straw coloured. The resident was dismissed from the operating area and was placed on warm saline soaks.During the next four days the lesion expanded, becoming very uncomfortable. The patient was placed on Tetracycline when an axillary lymph node became tender and palpable. On the eighth day after contact, nausea and vomiting with accompanying headache ensued for a 24-hour period, subsiding gradually over the next 48 hours. By the eleventh day the lesions had become violacious, swollen, and extremely painful. The lesion on the finger extended over the whole distal phalanx proximal to the nail. Both vesicles were opened to facilitate drainage and to alleviate pain. Further specimens were taken for bacteriological, mycological and virological studies. One sample was sent for electron microscopy and was found to contain large numbers of particles resembling herpes simplex virus. (See Fig. 2. ) The lesions continued to drain straw clear, then turbid, fluid for the