News / Health & Wellness
Staphylococcus aureus Poses Threat for Indoor Environments
A survey taken by the Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory reveals that these bacteria may be recorded in and around both in residential as well as commercial building environment.
Staphylococcus aureus is known for community-acquired and healthcare associated infections. The introduction of new classes of antimicrobials/antibiotics usually has been followed by emergence of resistance in S. aureus. After the initial success of penicillin in treating S. aureus infections, penicillin-resistant S. aureus became a major threat in hospitals and nurseries in the 1950s, requiring the use of methicillin and related drugs for treating infections caused by S. aureus. In the 1980s, methicillin-resistant S. aureus emerged and became widespread in many hospitals, leading to the increasing use of Vancomycin. The first clinical isolated case of S. aureus with reduced susceptibility to Vancomycin was reported from Japan.
A survey taken by the Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory at Pure Air Control Services, Clearwater, FL reveals that these bacteria may be recorded in and around both in residential as well as commercial building environment. Prevalence of S. aureus, in ambient air poses a serious challenge from health and hygiene point of view. Once these bacteria become airborne the possibility of mutation increases drastically and a new strain may immerse with an altered genetic make-up, which could also be drug resistant. Since ambient air does not have boundaries, chances for dissemination increase drastically.
The antibiotic does not technically cause the resistance, but allows it to happen by creating a situation where an already existing variant can flourish. Whenever antibiotics are used, there is selective pressure for resistance to occur. More over, the surrounding environment plays vital roles in the development and survival of microorganisms. A regular qualitative and quantitative microbiological evaluation of the build environment may be of significant importance as it helps in understanding the microbial population of a place at a given time. The outcome of such investigation certainly helps in determining a strategy that will adhere to prevent transmission as well as survival of resistant microorganisms in various places including healthcare settings and other building environments
Drug-resistant microbial infections increase the risk of death, and are often associated with prolonged hospital stays, and sometimes complications. In order to study the bacterial resistance power against the antibiotics it is necessary to have the knowledge of the genetic diversity of the organism and the environmental conditions apart from other physical and biological factors.
Sample Collection and Testing
In the indoor environment, settled dust, building and other materials besides ambient air may contain Staphylococcus. The nature, type and concentration of environmental strain of these bacteria may vary from place to place. Environmental monitoring for air or surface sample is necessary in order to identify and quantify the extent of these bacteria in indoor environments. EDLab at Pure Air Control Services have a microbiological culture technique for the assessment of Staphylococcus bacteria in environmental sample. Staphylococcus Screen Test Kit is recommended for collecting the environmental bulk sample for analyzing the Staphylococcus in indoor environments. Call EDLab at Pure Air Controls Services for information on air sample collection in order to test air-borne Staphylococcus.
Staphylococcus Screen Test (SST) Kit: Staphylococcus Screen Test Kit can be purchased from www.IndoorAirTest.com call at 800-422-7873 ext. 804.
Environmental Diagnostics laboratory (EDLab):
Alan Wozniak founded Pure Air Control Services, Inc. in 1984 as a small mechanical contracting firm and has since set the industry standard for indoor environmental quality diagnosis, environmental laboratory and remediation. Pure Air Control Services has serviced more than 600 million square feet of indoor environments in over 10,000 facilities.
The EDLab (established in 1992) at Pure Air Control Services (PACS) is an AIHA accredited environmental lab offering complete and comprehensive indoor environmental microbiology laboratory services. They include: microbiology, aerobiology, chemistry, allergen assays and microscopy designed to meet all your indoor air needs. EDLab supports IAQ investigations by assisting with strategic sampling plan development and supplying media collection equipment while performing a wide range of environmental analyses.
The company’s expanding client roster includes the General Services Administration (GSA); US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Allstate Insurance; Carrier Air Conditioning; US Naval Air Warfare Center, Orlando; and Naval Air Station - King's Bay, Georgia, and many other Fortune 500 companies, school boards, and city, state, and county governments, making Pure Air Control Services/EDLab the reliable industry leader in IAQ.
For more information on EDLab at Pure Air Services, Inc. please contact Alan Wozniak, at (800) 422-7873 x 802, Cy Garner, (800) 422-7873 x 804, or visit www.pureaircontrols.com.
Dr. Rajiv Sahay
Director, EDL
Pure Air Control Services
4911 Creekside Drvive
Clearwater, FL 33760
www.pureaircontrols.com
