Session 15
Rethinking Sterile: The Hospital Microbiome
Seltenrich, Nate (2014) "Rethinking Sterile: The Hospital Microbiome," Environmental Health Perspectives. Vol. 122, No. 7, p. A182-A187
Discussion Questions
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In some detail describe just how big a problem hospital acquired infections is.
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What factors contributed to the increase frequency of hospital acquired infections?
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Describe the variety of environments in which microbess thrive in hospitals.
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According to Seltenrich, "within hours of a new patient’s arrival, the microbes in a room changed to reflect the composition of the latest inhabitant." What does this practically mean?
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Public health professionals talk about "vectors of transmission" when talking about microbes - meaning the various ways in which microbes are transferred from one persosn to another. Describe how microbes can be transmitted via touch, water and in the air.