What conditions at the Andersonville Prison Camp contributed to prisoners getting staphylococcus infection?
* Overcrowding: The prison was severely overcrowded, with more than 30,000 prisoners held in a space designed for only 10,000. This overcrowding led to poor sanitation and hygiene, which created an ideal environment for the spread of infection.* Poor sanitation: The prison was filthy, with raw sewage running through the camp. The prisoners were not given soap or other hygiene supplies, and they were forced to live in their own excrement.
* Lack of food and water: The prisoners were given very little food and water, and what they did get was often contaminated. This malnutrition and dehydration made the prisoners more susceptible to infection.
* Exposure to the elements: The prison was located in a swampy area, and the prisoners were exposed to the elements without adequate shelter. This exposure to cold and rain further weakened the prisoners' immune systems and made them more vulnerable to infection.