Safeguarding Workers and Building Occupants from MRSA and Other Microbial Exposure Risks

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is described by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as a potentially dangerous type of staph bacteria. Staph, which is commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people, can sometimes cause infections, but most of these skin infections are minor.

With MRSA, which is staph that is resistant to an antibiotic known as methicillin, and often resistant to other antibiotics as well, the infections can be very serious and sometimes even fatal. These infections are typically difficult and costly to treat, making transmission in the workplace a significant concern.

NIOSH reports that MRSA usually spreads by touching infected skin, but it can also spread by touching materials or surfaces that have contact with an infection. The agency states that certain factors make it easier for it to spread in the workplace and lists their 5 Cs, which include:

1. Crowding,
2. Frequent skin-to-skin Contact,
3. Compromised skin (cut, scrape, or rash),
4. Contaminated items and surfaces, and
5. Lack of Cleanliness.
   
   

“Community-associated infections of MRSA (CA-MRSA) can occur in the workplace, school, and other locations where people come together,” said Frank Selamie, President of CTSI. “Basic facility cleaning and disinfection procedures, personal hygiene, wound care, and personal protective equipment (PPE) can all contribute greatly towards mitigating infection risks on the job and in the built environment. At CTSI, we offer infection control, industrial hygiene, and environmental testing, training, and consulting for MRSA, C. diff, and other superbugs. These resources help to prevent infections, to pinpoint the source of an outbreak if one has already occurred, and to confirm the effectiveness of cleaning and disinfection procedures in all types of high-risk environments.”

To learn more about infection control, industrial hygiene, and other indoor environmental quality testing, consulting, and training resources, please visit www.ctsiweb.com, email contactus@ctsiweb.com, or call (212) 971-7016.

About CTSI
Established in 1992, Consulting & Testing Services, Inc. (CTSI) was founded on one strong commitment: to provide efficient and expert services to clients based on professionalism, innovation, and cost-effective expert solutions. This commitment has been furthered by CTSI’s reputation for fostering client relationships in all sectors of the Environmental, Health, Safety, and Construction industries. CTSI prides itself in utilizing a high-quality service based on its diverse team of staff and professionals’ concise recommendations and solutions to the most pressing dilemmas. The company operates offices in New York and Florida that service clients across the United States.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail