CDC Reports California has New ‘Superbug’ Infections

The environmental professionals at Clark Seif Clark (CSC) help medical facilities and infection control professionals combat the growing threat of drug-resistant microbial contaminants.

A deadly bacterium with a gene that produces an enzyme that allows it to disable carbapenam antibiotics was recently reported on by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The enzyme, Klebsiella pneumonia carbapenamase or KPC, makes the bacteria very difficult to treat even with carbapenam antibiotics, a ‘last resort’ treatment.

The NDM-1 bacteria, named after the Indian city of New Delhi, have infection control and healthcare professionals on alert. Just last week Fox News reported that new drug resistant ‘superbugs’ have been found in 3 states, including California. Later in the week USA Today published an article entitled “Drug-resistant ‘superbugs’ hit 20 states, spread worldwide”.

The USA Today article reported that, “Bacteria that are able to survive every modern antibiotic are cropping up in many U.S. hospitals and are spreading outside the USA, public health officials say. The bugs, reported by hospitals in more than 20 states, typically strike the critically ill and are fatal in 30% to 60% of cases.”

Clark Seif Clark, a leading provider of indoor air quality (IAQ) and infection control services, has been on the forefront of helping healthcare facilities across the west coast and southwest battle these new dangerous drug resistant pathogens. “A recent study sponsored by Resources for the Future and reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine reported that in 2006, hospital acquired infections added $8.1 billion in additional medical costs annually,” reported Derrick A. Denis, V.P. Indoor Environmental Quality at CSC. “Following proper hygiene procedures and understanding factors such as how HVAC systems and room pressurization in healthcare facilities can spread disease can make all the difference in stopping these pathogens.”

To learn more about how CSC can help with infectious disease prevention and IAQ services please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118.

About Clark Seif Clark (CSC).
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both the public and private sectors address environmental issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering making them the preferred environmental consultants to healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail