News / Health & Wellness
Staphylococcus aureus Poses Threat to Indoor Environments
Staph-related illness can range from mild and requiring no treatment to severe and potentially fatal.
The name Staphylococcus comes from the Greek staphyle, meaning a bunch of grapes, and kokkos, meaning berry, and that is what Staph bacteria look like under the microscope, like a bunch of grapes or little round berries. Over 30 different types of Staphylococci can infect humans, but most infections are caused by Staphylococcus aureus. S. aureus is also one of the most common causes of community-acquired and healthcare associated infections. The introduction of new classes of antimicrobials/antibiotics usually has been followed by the 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 residential environments, as well as commercial building environments. The prevalence of S. aureus in ambient air poses a serious challenge from a 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 structure, 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. Furthermore, the surrounding environment plays vital roles in the development and survival of microorganisms. A regular qualitative and quantitative microbiological evaluation of the building environment may be of significant importance as it helps to understand the microbial population of a place at a given time. The outcome of such an investigation certainly helps in determining a strategy that will adhere to prevent transmission in addition to 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 condition 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 the environmental strain of these bacteria may vary from place to place. Environmental monitoring for an 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 samples. The Staphylococcus Screen Check Test Kit is recommended to use to collect an environmental bulk samples for analyzing Staphylococcus in indoor environments.
The Staphylococcus Screen Check (SSC) can be purchased from Building Health Check, LLC or call Cy Garner at 800-422-7873, ext. 804 or visit our website www.indoorairtest.com. For a on-line catalog go to: IndoorAitTest
About 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 Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (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 Drive
Clearwater, FL 33760
www.pureaircontrols.com
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