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.

Staphylococcus aureusin Antarctica: carriage and attempted eradication

“…Other studies have been performed on isolated men in space flights and space flight simulators for relatively short periods (Carmichael & Taylor, 1977;Taylor & Zaloguev, 1976) and in submarines (Morris & Fallon, 1973) for longer periods. In none of these studies has the effect of interfering with the bacterial flora been studied.…”

Risk factors for dermatitis in submariners during a submerged patrol: an observational cohort study

“… 11 In a submarine, aerosolised transmission is also possible. 12 Despite the high frequency of skin disorders in the submarine environment, few studies linking this to S. aureus carriage have been carried out; a study performed in the early 1970s indicated that, similar to civilian populations, S. aureus carriage rates in submariners are about 30%. 12 …”