Hospital Closed – AEGIS Anti-Microbial Critical To Recovery

PRLog (Press Release) – Nov 05, 2007 – Deadly fungal attack closes new Johor Hospital” read the newspaper headline as the problems at the two month old ten storeys Johor, Sultan Ismail Specialist Hospital became public knowledge. The “deadly fungal” contamination was evidenced by wide spread visible growth, musty odors and occupants illness. The Aspergillus, Penicillium and other fungal contamination was so bad that in some areas even a few minutes of exposure triggered symptoms of headaches, dizziness, and shortness of breath, nervous ticks and other debilitating symptoms. Bad enough in a home or office building but totally unacceptable in a hospital, let alone a newly built stat of the art facility. After over five years of planning and construction this was far from the building expected to be the premier healthcare facility in Johor and the southern peninsula.

The Ministry of Health reacted quickly, closed the hospital, undertook an analysis of the problem along with the Public Works Department and hired Germ Guard Technologies and AEGIS Asia to determine causes and implement solutions to the existing and potentially worse fungal contamination.

AEGIS Asia / Germ Guard Selected Contractor

•   Experience and expertise in bio-decontamination
•   Trained supervisors and technicians
•   State-of-the-art equipment and technologies for detection, decontamination and protection strategies
•   Monitoring and maintenance capabilities
•   Three year service and warranty program

AEGIS Antimicrobial Selected Technology

•   Proven in-hospital safety and effectiveness in similar situations
•   Durable, non-leaching, no adaptation properties
•   Ease of use relatively low cost
•   Proven capability to provide long term protection

The mandate from this disaster was to get the building fit for occupancy and fit for its intended use as a state of the art full service 704 beds 3004 rooms hospital.

Germ Guard and the repair team determined the needs to be for a thorough analysis of the problem areas, repair of the structural and air handling system problems, clean up the visible and peripheral (out of sight and out of mind) fungal growth habitats and the provision for extended anti-microbial protection of the building surfaces, the air handling system, and the furnishings in the building.

The analysis confirmed the visible problems and determined the additional contamination and dispersal sites which called for both clean up and protective treatments in all areas of the hospital including above ceiling spaces, elevator shafts, utility chases as well as the occupied spaces. The obvious and visible fungal contamination was in fact only the “Tip of the Iceberg”.

The remediation process and protective AEGIS Treatment began in March 2005 and was completed in four months. Fungal air and surface testing in various zones of the hospital showed levels below any standards and a fraction of the normal ambient outdoor levels of fungal contamination.

Post clean up clearance testing by an independent laboratory and the Ministry of Health showed that the decontamination work was done and completed successfully. This work also provided the “safety net” of protection while the building and air conditioning defects were repaired and the building was re-commissioned for occupancy.

Six month later January 2006, the defects continue to be worked on but testing shows no increase in fungal levels. Service areas being phased in to full occupancy in February 2006 have had no problems associated with fungal contamination.

To learn more on Anti mIcrobial treatment and services, please visit http://www.aegisasia.com


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