Studies of patients in a laminar air flow unit

Six patients with acute leukemia were studied in a laminar air flow unit. Prophylactic oral and topical antibiotics were administered to suppress their endogenous microbial flora. They remained in the unit for 50 to 118 days, and 5 patients tolerated the confinement quite well. The antibiotics completely suppressed all anaerobic bacteria and fungi from the nose and ears and 25% of anaerobic bacteria and 20% of fungi from the throat. Approximately 90% of aerobic bacteria were completely suppressed from all 3 sites. All aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and 67%of fungi cultured from stool specimens were completely suppressed. Cleansing procedures significantly reduced the number of organisms on the skin but did not eliminate some species. Three of the 6 patients achieved remission of their leukemia. Three patients never developed infection, and 2 never became ill during their stay in the unit.