A fourth-year medical student has published a piece of research on a contagious disease – with the process, and striking results, inspiring her career path. 

Humaira Ahmed, who is studying at the University of Plymouth, co-wrote a study that showed how superbug Clostridioides difficile (commonly known as C. diff) was still living on hospital scrubs and surfaces despite being treated with high concentrations of bleach.

The results have prompted calls for urgent research to find alternative strategies to disinfect C. diff spores to minimise transmission in clinical environments. Such was the impact of the research process that Humaira is now pursuing a career in infectious disease, dermatology and surgery.