Question: My wife was recently admitted to the hospital. Before they took her to the room, I wiped down the bed rails and other surfaces in her room with alcohol wipes. The nurses looked at me like I was crazy. Do you think I went overboard?

Dr. Hibberd's answer:
The hospital environment plays a major role in the nosocomial transmission of microorganisms. Potential sources of hospital cross infections are doctors’ white coats, nurses’ uniforms, hospital garments, privacy drapes, stethoscopes, bed rails, and common hospital surfaces. One critical aspect of bacterial transfer is the ability of microorganisms to survive for a considerable length of time on these surfaces. Many hospital personnel also are susceptible to such infections. Although most hospitals do routine checks in possible high-risk contamination areas, it is better to take precautions as well.