Researchers are testing thousands of hospital microbe samples to learn how a healthcare facility can help or hurt infection control efforts, according to an article on the Wall Street Journal website.
The Hospital Microbiome Project has has found that ventilation, furnishings and fixtures affect the bacteria inside a hospital.
The project's goal is to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospital settings by manipulating conditions from room to room to keep pathogens in check.
Scientists also hope eventually to make the hospital building itself a curative probiotic—perhaps by infusing walls or furnishings with bacteria that enhance patient health and recovery, the article said.
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