College lab class ends with 32 people on antibiotics for deadly germ exposure
A college microbiology lab class mistakenly identified a harmless bacterium as a deadly pathogen, leading to 32 people taking unnecessary antibiotics. The incident highlights the risks of laboratory errors and the psychological impact of perceived health threats.
Why it matters
It serves as a cautionary tale regarding laboratory safety protocols and the potential for mass panic when diagnostic errors occur in educational settings.
Close call College lab class ends with 32 people on antibiotics for deadly germ exposure Lab students were supposed to ID a mild germ. They all identified a deadly pathogen.
25 Microscopy image of Neisseria meningitidis Credit: Getty | CAVALLINI JAMES Microscopy image of Neisseria meningitidis Credit: Getty | CAVALLINI JAMES Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav A bizarre series of events in a college microbiology lab class left 33 people—including students, professors, and lab workers—believing they were exposed to a deadly germ. Of those, 32 began taking an antibiotic regimen as a precaution to prevent a life-threatening infection. Two also underwent lumbar punctures—aka spinal taps—after developing mild symptoms.
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