Bleach used in hospitals no better than water at killing superbug

According to a new study, one of the key chlorine disinfectants presently used to clean hospital scrubs and surfaces did not eliminate the most common cause of antibiotic-associated illness. The University of Plymouth discovered that spores of the dangerous superbug Clostridioides difficile are completely unaffected by high quantities of bleach.

Washing with water

In fact, the substance did not even produce better results than washing materials with just water.

“With incidence of anti-microbial resistance on the rise, the threat posed by superbugs to human health is increasing. But far from demonstrating that our clinical environments are clean and safe for staff and patients, this study highlights the ability of Clostridioides difficile spores to tolerate disinfection at in-use and recommended active chlorine concentrations,” said Dr Tina Joshi, Associate Professor in Molecular Microbiology at the University of Plymouth, adding that