Superbugs Reported in Hospitals across the United States

EMSL Analytical offers testing solutions for all types of microbial pathogens found in healthcare environments.

Cinnaminson, NJ

Last month a USA Today article reported that, “Bacteria that are able to survive every modern antibiotic are cropping up in many U.S. hospitals and are spreading outside the USA, public health officials say. The bugs, reported by hospitals in more than 20 states, typically strike the critically ill and are fatal in 30% to 60% of cases.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports a deadly bacterium with a gene that produces an enzyme that allows it to disable carbapenam antibiotics has been reported at numerous hospitals. The NDM-1 bacteria, named after the Indian city of New Delhi, have infection control and healthcare professionals on alert. The enzyme produced by the bacteria, Klebsiella pneumonia carbapenamase (KPC), makes the bacteria very difficult to treat even with carbapenam antibiotics, a ‘last resort’ treatment.

A recent study sponsored by Resources for the Future and reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine reported that in 2006, hospital acquired infections added $8.1 billion in additional medical costs each year. Many of these pathogens are spread through poor indoor air quality (IAQ), from touching contaminated surfaces and due to improper hygiene procedures.

EMSL Analytical, Inc., a leading provider of environmental testing services, has helped healthcare facilities across the nation battle these microbial pathogens. “Drug resistant microbes, such as MRSA, C. diff and now NDM-1, are being discovered in hospitals and other healthcare settings at an alarming rate,” reported Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President at EMSL. “Environmental testing services from EMSL can help identify these dangerous pathogens through surface and air testing. Identifying their presence is an important step in stopping the spread of these organisms that cause disease and death.”

To learn more about testing for pathogens and other microbes in healthcare environments please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800)220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of environmental and materials testing services and products to professionals and the general public. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.

Contact Information

Joe Frasca

Senior Vice President, Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

Contact via E-mail