A new study has unveiled that antibacterial wipes actually help the spread of dangerous strains of bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This happens because hospital staffers often use the antibacterial wipes, which are meant to limit the spread of nosocomial infections, in an improper way.

The general tendency is to use a single wipe on several surfaces. This can often mean that highly resistant bacteria is spread to all these surfaces. Most of the bacteria killed is thus relatively harmless. Overall, the wipes actually work as they indeed significantly reduce the bacterial count on the surface, but a wipe per surface has to be used to prevent the transfer of live bacteria to other objects.

Even though some of the wipes used in hospitals have the words "kills MRSA" printed on the boxes, it is not actually true in most cases. Experts such as Tracey Cooper, a nurse consultant and spokesman for the Infection Prevention Society, told BBC that if a wipe would actually have an ingredient to kill off bacteria instantly, it would also harm your skin.

The issue here is that wipes perform the most important task, which is to remove dirt on which the bacteria grows as well as the bacteria. Staffers should, however, refrain from using that contaminated wipe on something else. It has to be thrown away after each use for the antibacterial cleaning to be effective.