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Air Testing to Help Prevent the Spread of TB in Puerto Rico’s Healthcare Facilities and Correctional Institutions

Zimmetry Environmental provides advanced DNA-based air testing services to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis to protect workers and the public.


Bayamon, Puerto Rico – WEBWIRE

Workers and people spending long periods of time in hospitals, long-term care facilities, jails and prisons are often at greater risk of coming into contact with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

In less than two weeks, World TB Day will be recognized in Puerto Rico and across the globe. March 24th is the official day of recognition and is the same date that back in 1882, Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the cause of tuberculosis (TB).
 
The bacteria can be spread from a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat through the air from one person to another if they cough, sneeze, speak or sing. This occurs when people nearby breathe in the bacteria and then become infected. This is why the transmission of tuberculosis can be a significant risk in healthcare environments, correctional institutions, and other places where many people are in close proximity for an extended period of time.
 
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that approximately one third of the global population is infected with the tuberculosis bacteria. However, only a small proportion of those infected will become sick with TB. This is due to the fact that most people who breathe in the bacteria and become infected have a strong enough immune system to fight it. For those who do become sick, the bacteria usually attacks the lungs, but it can attack any part of the body, such as the kidney, spine and brain. The WHO reports that globally, TB is still one of the top 10 causes of death.
 
“Workers and people spending long periods of time in hospitals, long-term care facilities, jails and prisons are often at greater risk of coming into contact with Mycobacterium tuberculosis,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental.  “At Zimmetry, we offer air testing that includes collecting samples on special filter cassettes that are then analyzed utilizing highly sensitive, real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) laboratory methods. If environmental tests come back positive, our building science professionals can help to mitigate exposure concerns through mechanical ventilation, engineering controls and other methods to protect building occupants in Puerto Rico and throughout the Caribbean.”
 
Zimmetry also recently sponsored an educational video about World TB Day that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/CkmUIG-IyHQ
 
To learn more about Zimmetry’s air, water, environmental, occupational, and compliance testing and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .
 
About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies.  The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America.  The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.
 


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 TB
 Tuberculosis
 Air Testing
 Puerto Rico
 EHS


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