The 5 surprising places where superbugs are hiding in your hospital

New research is helping hospitals find superbugs in places providers hadn’t previously thought to clean. Here are the unexpected places where germs are turning up—and how three hospitals are fighting them, Lucette Lagnado reports for the Wall Street Journal.

What’s hiding on that stethoscope?

A recent study surprised doctors, residents, and medical students by revealing bacteria on a piece of equipment they carry with them all day: their stethoscopes.

For the study, researchers looked at the stethoscopes of about 50 physicians, medical residents, and medical students at VA Connecticut Healthcare System. When the study participants saw large pictures of the bacteria found on their stethoscopes, “there was an audible reaction” that included “yucks,” according to Daniel Federman, a physician who works at the hospital where the study took place.

Read the full article here:

https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2018/09/19/stethoscope