Bio Barrier will address the below problems with our ISO-ONE® Pathogen Control System. Because of a growing awareness of microbial produced diseases, such as hospital acquired infections, the emerging resistant microorganisms (MRSA), and the current mold issues, our methods should be implemented within all public and private structures as an added safety intervention. As technology grows, so should our interests in advanced preventative long-term solutions. We can provide the solution!

HOSPITAL PROBLEM

Did you know that a patient dies every 6 minutes in the US?

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate that more than 2 million people suffered from Hospital acquired or nosocomial (a term derived from ‘nosos’ the Greek word for ‘disease’) infections in 2005 that resulted in approximately 90,000 deaths last year – one death every 6 minutes. One out of every 20 patients acquires an infection as a result of hospitalization, leading to higher costs, longer hospital stays and greater risk of death.

HAI’s are the fourth largest killer of Americans and estimates show that the HAI annual costs in the United States are currently $6 billion are expected to exceed $45 billion in the near future..

In the chain of infection (see "Breaking the Chain of Infection," July 2002 Infection Control Today), fomites (a fomite is defined as an inanimate object that serves to transmit an infectious agent from person to person) can serve as the reservoir, with pathogens being spread from the inanimate environment to an animate environment (the patient) via the hands of healthcare workers (HCWs).

Even though there are several contributing factors concerning HAI’s, the inanimate environment plays a very significant role. If the inanimate environment was not such an important factor, then hospitals would not create such extensive infection control and environmental services protocols.

What infection control experts conclude from various studies is that the inanimate environment may contribute to the spread of some pathogens, but that the precise contribution may be less than 25 percent. It has been found that non-critical surfaces play a role in the transmission of most pathogens.

Most experts believe that meticulous disinfection and handwashing can prevent most transmission of disease. Yet when it comes to disease transmission, changes in routine disinfection only are unlikely to reduce disease transmission because recontamination of the patient environment is usually rapid.

In 1992, The New England Journal of Medicine reported that despite special education and monitored observation, hand-washing rates were between 30% and 48% at best. Similarly, data from the food-service industry show inadequate hand-washing and cross-contamination is responsible for as much as 40% of food-borne illnesses.

Hospitals have a real and immediate problem around infection control. Recent publicity, state reporting requirements, and more importantly reductions in Medicare reimbursement provide the needed incentives to address the problem. Beginning in October 2008, Medicare will no longer reimburse hospitals for expenses associated with hospital acquired infections. There are currently 17 States that have laws requiring hospital-acquired infection reporting.

COMMUNITY PROBLEM

The spread and dissemination of infectious pathogens in the public is well documented and is obvious for most Americans. Many surfaces and inanimate objects are reservoirs of infection and can lead to illness (especially for the immunocompromised individuals). With all the objects touched by people on a daily basis, one would be wise to accept the reality that public environments are like large Petri-dishes filled with microbes. And people are constantly spreading these pathogenic germs all over the place. And although cleaning can never be replaced, it is still very limited in its effects.

In the 1990s, a type of MRSA began showing up in the wider community. Today, that form of staph, known as community-associated MRSA, or CA-MRSA, is responsible for many serious skin and soft tissue infections and for a serious form of pneumonia. When not treated properly, MRSA infection can be fatal.

MOLD PROBLEM

A national problem

Across the nation, the public has become more aware of the threat of toxic mold. Recently, California has responded to the groundswell of health concerns surrounding mold by signing the Toxic Mold Protection Act. It directs state health officials to set exposure limits for schools, homes, businesses and public buildings.

According to a 1999 Mayo Clinic study, nearly 37 million Americans endure chronic sinus problems because of mold. But the effects of toxic mold can be much worse than that of simple mold allergy. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has spent $3.17 million on mold research in an effort to remove mold from the homes of infants at risk of asthma and acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage, which can cause bleeding in the lungs.

Mold, of course, has been around for ages, but the current toxic mold epidemic has modern roots. Changes in building design from the 1970s onward have exacerbated today's toxic mold crisis. The drive toward energy efficiency had the unintended effect of sealing off airflow so moisture does not evaporate well. Also, building materials are now more cellulose-based, and mold thrives on the higher paper content. Unchecked growth can be devastating. In large school sites, the liability and property damage can be astounding, because mold may stay hidden longer and has more room to grow.