Several former hospitals that, at one time or another, warehoused patients suffering from dread communicable diseases (usually tuberculosis, but others I suppose) are still standing throughout the US. These buildings are attractions for vandals, urban explorers, ghost hunters, etc.
My understanding of microbiology is pretty limited, so please forgive me for asking what may be a really stupid question: are people who visit those places at any risk of contracting disease? Like, the bacteria from patients still linger on surfaces and are still potent, despite decades of being exposed to the elements?
I can’t specifically answer your question but just last week I watched a show about Cresson hospital. It was a TB sanitorium (on land donated by Andrew Carnegie in 1916) until the 50’s and is now a prison.
IAMNA microbiologist, but no. The bacteria that causes TB is only viable a few hours outside the body. In order to be a risk after all those years, there would have to be spores. TB and cholera causing bacteria do not produce spores.
As jk1245 said,TB isn’t very contagious. I grew up at a sanatorium and we children ran around in the hospital as if we owned the place without catching it, but on the other hand inoculating was compulsory then (I have no idea how it is nowadays).