Most Active Stories Sun February 3, 2013 Got A Superbug? Bring
In The Robots Originally published on Sun February 3, 2013 4:16
pm Drug-resistant bacteria are a growing problem at hospitals
across the country. The bacteria, such as Staphylococcus and
Clostridium difficile, are difficult to prevent and impossible
to treat. "The problem is expanding, and it's going up and up
and up," explains Dr. Trish Perl of Johns Hopkins Hospital in
Baltimore. "We're running out of antibiotics to treat, and so
the challenge is can we prevent?" At Johns Hopkins, doctors have
turned to a new technology to prevent the so-called superbugs:
robots. The machines spray toxic doses of hydrogen peroxide into
sealed hospital rooms, killing any bacteria. Before the robots
can be switched on, the rooms are made ready by a technician.
Michael Duclos showed host Laura Sullivan, host of weekends on
All Things Considered, how he prepares a room by closing off air
vents and opening up drawers. "We want to get the hydrogen
peroxide on all the