《中英對照讀新聞》Ties can spread superbugs 領帶會散播超級細菌

◎陳成良

Doctors should stop wearing ties and traditional white coats to work because they might be responsible for spreading deadly hospital superbugs, according to a report.

據一項報告指出，醫生工作時應該不要再打領帶、穿傳統白袍，因為它們可能在醫院內散播致命超級細菌。

The British Medical Association （BMA）, which represents three-quarters of the country's doctors, said ties performed no beneficial function in treating patients and, as they were rarely washed, were a potential bug haven.

代表全英國4分之3醫生的「英國醫學協會」（BMA）指出，領帶對治療病患並無法發揮效用，而且因為它們很少送洗，成為潛在的細菌溫床。

In Britain alone, up to 5,000 people every year are killed by hospital infections such as MRSA （methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus）, costing the state-funded National Health Service as much as 1 billion pounds a year, the BMA said.

單單在英國，每年就有多達5000人因為在醫院內感染諸如（具有抗藥性的）「耐甲氧西林金黃色葡萄球菌」（MRSA）等病菌而死亡，國立「國家健康照護體系」（NHS）每年因此耗費10億英鎊，BMA指出。

Washing hands properly was the most important action medical staff could take to help stop the spread of the so-called superbugs. However other steps, such as doctors abandoning ties and other "functionless" clothing, could also help minimise the risk, said Peter Maguire, deputy chairman of the BMA's board of science.

適當洗手，是醫療人員協助遏止所謂超級細菌散播所能採取的最重要行動。然而，諸如醫生不穿戴領帶及其他「無作用」的衣物，也有助於將這種風險降到最低，BMA的科學理事會副主席彼得．馬奎爾說。

新聞辭典

blunder：名詞，指大錯，亦可做動詞，如︰Hsuperbug：英文慣用口語，指（用常規方法難以消除的）超級病菌。bug意為蟲子，在電腦用語中指程式的「瑕疵」，而英文口語中bug也可指「病菌」。

three-quarters：名詞，4分之3。Quarter是「4分之1」，用法如：She cut the cake into quarters.（她把蛋糕切成4份。）

haven：避風港；避難所，此字容易與heaven（天堂）混淆。

minimize：使減到最少；使縮到最小。We've taken steps to minimize the losses.（我們已採取措施盡量減少損失。）反義字為maximize（最大化）。