Steve Mitchener

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the 1860s, when Joseph Lister instigated sterile techniques in his hospital, cleaning regimes have helped to curb the spread of pathogens. Simple measures like hand-washing have undoubtedly saved countless lives. But just as we have gone overboard in taking unnecessary antibiotics or lathering ourselves in antibacterial sanitisers, we have also gone too far in cleaning our buildings – even our hospitals. As an example, one US hospital recently spent around $700,000 to install flooring that had been impregnated with antibacterial substances, despite having no evidence that such measures work. ...more
I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life
by Ed Yong
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