Illinois Hospital Report Details Surgical Infections

Jan. 9, 2012 - PRLog -- The Illinois Hospital Report Card has been recently updated to provide consumers with information about surgical infections.  These infections, which follow surgical procedures, can cause extended patient stays, result in dramatically increased medical costs and even result in death in extreme cases.

Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) have garnered greater attention as drug resistant microorganisms have become increasingly commonplace. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Approximately 1 out of every 20 hospitalized patients will contract an HAI.”  Many of these infections are related to drug resistant bacteria and fungi, including MRSA, C. diff and VRE.

Another microbe that has the potential to cause hospital infections is Pseudomonas aeruginosa.  It is a common microorganism that can cause disease in humans.    It can be found in soil, water, skin flora and many man-made environments.  It has the ability to utilize a wide range of organic material for food.   In humans this versatility enables the microorganism to infect damaged tissues and infect those with weakened immune systems.

“Pseudomonas aeruginosa is just one of many microorganisms that can cause havoc in a healthcare environment,” reported Ed Chambers, the President of EC2, Inc., an Illinois-based environmental and infectious disease control consulting firm. “Since it thrives on many types of surfaces, this type of bacteria has been known to be found on and in medical equipment, including catheters.  This can cause cross-infections in hospitals and clinics and post surgical infections.  According to some reports, as many as one in ten hospital-acquired infections (HAI) are due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Companies, such as EC2, can help medical facilities evaluate their programs, provide onsite monitoring and quickly react to help medical facilities that experience a problem.”

EC2 has recently sponsored a video about Pseudomonas aeruginosa to help educate the public about the infectious agent.  It can be seen at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4vlv0gDvGI



Healthcare professionals interested in learning more about environmental, IAQ and infectious disease issues can learn more by visiting http://www.4ec2inc.com, emailing info@4ec2inc.com or calling (815) 703-9000.

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About EC2, Inc.
EC2 is a leading provider of environmental consulting and inspection services for clients across the United States. Based in the Chicago area, the company provides their services to clients ranging from local companies and institutions to international Fortune 500 Corporations.