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Another Reason to Avoid TV... Even If You're in the Hospital Infections acquired by patients while they're in the hospital are estimated by the New England Journal of Medicine to cause 90,000 deaths a year and cost $9.5 billion in medical bills. One of the culprits? The TV remote controls in patients' rooms.
A recent study by University of Arizona researchers found that the remote control in a hospital room is the item that carries the most disease-causing bacteria (including drug-resistant strains), trumping the toilet and faucet handles, bathroom door, and other more obvious suspects. The study recommends the widespread use of disposable remote controls to protect patients during their hospital stays. |
