Mid-Atlantic Infection Control Professional Helps Stop Microbial Pathogens in Healthcare Settings

Aug. 27, 2012 - PRLog -- Earlier this month, USA Today published an article entitled, “Far more could be done to stop the deadly bacteria C. diff”.  The article, about this pathogenic type of bacteria officially known as Clostridium difficile, discussed the cost to human health that this healthcare-associated infection (HAI) causes each year in the United States.

According to the article, C. diff is linked to more than 30,000 deaths annually in this country.  These figures are approximately double those of previous federal estimates.  If these numbers are accurate, the article states that the deaths would rival the data for the 32,000 people killed in traffic accidents each year.  

C. diff is just one of many microbial organisms that cause disease in healthcare settings.  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists a number or organisms associated with HAIs.  They include: Acinetobacter, Burkholderia cepacia, Clostridium sordellii, Enterobacteriacae, Klebsiella, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Mycobacterium abscessus, Influenza, and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci to name a few.

“Healthcare-associated infections are infections that patients acquire during the course of receiving healthcare treatment for other conditions,” stated Susan White, Ph.D., CMC, President of Sussex Environmental Health Consultants (SEHC), a Delaware based environmental and infection control consulting firm.  “These infections can be devastating and even deadly, not to mention they add billions of dollars in medical costs each year.  Many of these HAIs can be spread through contaminated surfaces and some even through the air in healthcare environments.  At SEHC we have the expertise to identify microbial pathogens and provide solutions to help prevent their spread,” she continued.

SEHC recently sponsored a series of public outreach videos about healthcare-associated infections and microbial pathogens, they can be seen at:
http://youtu.be/FwO9oUFFIps



To learn more about SEHC’s indoor air quality (IAQ), infection control, environmental, or health and safety services, please visit http://www.sussexenvironmental.com, email susan.white@mchsi.com or call (302) 947-1810.
 
About Sussex Environmental Health Consultants, LLC
SEHC is a certified woman owned business that provides environmental and health and safety consulting services.  The company is located in the Mid-Atlantic and services customers nationwide.  SEHC provides solutions to clients ranging from homeowners to international Fortune 500 Corporations.