LONDON — Disinfectant wipes routinely used in hospitals may actually spread drug-resistant bacteria rather than kill the dangerous infections, British researchers said on Tuesday. While the wipes killed some bacteria, a study of two hospitals showed they did not get them all and could transfer the so-called superbugs to other surfaces, Gareth Williams, a microbiologist at Cardiff University, said. The findings presented at the American Society of Microbiology’s General Meeting in Boston focused on bacteria that included methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. ‘What we have found is there is a high risk,’ Williams, who led the study, said by telephone. ‘We need to give guidance to the staff on how to use the wipes because we found there is a possibility of cross transfer.’ MRSA infections can range from boils to more severe infections of the bloodstream, lungs and surgical sites. Most cases are associated with hospitals, nursing homes or other health care facilities. The superbug can cause life-threatening and disfiguring infections and can often only be treated with expensive, intravenous antibiotics. Experts have been saying for years that poor hospital practices spread dangerous bacteria, and yet many studies have shown that health care […]