Midwest Hospitals on the Lookout for MDR-AB

Feb. 6, 2012 - PRLog -- In November of last year, a new study was published in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC).  It indicated the common presence of Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-AB), a dangerous multi-drug resistant bacterium, in numerous patient rooms in healthcare settings.  Researchers found that MDR-AB was present in the indoor environment of 48% of the rooms of patients infected or colonized by the organism.  

Acinetobacter is a type of bacteria commonly found in soil and water. While there are many species of Acinetobacter and all can cause human disease, Acinetobacter baumannii accounts for approximately 80% of all reported infections.

Outbreaks of Acinetobacter infections typically occur in intensive care units and healthcare settings housing very ill patients.  These infections rarely occur outside of healthcare settings.  Acinetobacter can cause a variety of diseases, ranging from pneumonia to serious blood or wound infections, and the symptoms vary depending on the disease.  Acinetobacter may also “colonize” or live in a patient without causing infection or symptoms, especially in tracheostomy sites or open wounds.

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one out of every twenty hospital patients acquires an infection while being treated for another illness,” reported Ed Chambers, President of EC2, an Illinois-based environmental and infectious disease prevention consulting firm.  “Acinetobacter can live on the skin and may survive in the environment for several days. Careful attention to infection control procedures, such as hand hygiene and environmental cleaning, can reduce the risk of transmission.  Environmental testing on indoor surfaces in healthcare environments can help identify its presence before susceptible individuals become infected,” he continued.

EC2 has sponsored an online video about Acinetobacter that can be seen at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrIPikbeBJs



To learn more about infectious disease control prevention measures or other environmental and indoor air quality (IAQ) services, please visit http://www.4ec2inc.com, email info@4ec2inc.com or call (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.