Illinois Healthcare Professionals Turn to EC2 to Battle Hospital Acquired Infections

With decades of environmental and hospital infrastructure knowledge, EC2 helps medical facilities find solutions to the growing threat of infections and drug-resistant microbial contaminants.

Chicago area hospital administrators and infection control professionals know firsthand the dangers of hospital acquired, or nosocomial, infections. Many of these infections are due to Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureas (MRSA), Clostridium difficile and other pathogens. Many of these infectious agents are spread through contact or airborne transmissions. Other cases are the result of droplet, common vehicle or vector-borne transmission.

Ed Chambers, the President of EC2, Inc. (ec2) is an active member of the American Society of Healthcare Engineers (ASHE) and the Healthcare Engineering Society of Northern Illinois (HESNI). His company has resolved over 4,000 indoor air quality (IAQ) cases, many of which occurred in hospitals and other healthcare environments.

Resources for the Future recently reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine that in 2006, hospital acquired infections added $8.1 billion in additional medical costs. Most infection control experts agree that the rate of infections has been increasing and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there are reportedly 1.7 million hospital acquired infections diagnosed each year. These infections cause or contribute to 99,000 deaths each year.

As the cost to human lives and the enormous financial expenditures continue to grow, the services of ec2 are being called upon more than ever to help stop and prevent hospital acquired infections. “Infection control problems in healthcare settings can be caused by a number of issues,” reported Ed Chambers. “They typically range from simple hygiene procedures to complex issues involving HVAC systems, room pressurization and a host of other factors working together. Bridging the gap between a maintenance function or contractor function, in clinical environments, is a crucial role that ec2 provides. Controlling and monitoring IAQ in healthcare environments has to be a top priority”

Healthcare professionals interested in learning more about environmental, IAQ and building sciences issues can follow ec2 on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EnvProfessional. To learn more about ec2 please visit www.4ec2inc.com, email info@4ec2inc.com or call (815) 703-9000.

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.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail