In a nutshell… This article introduces electrostatic sprayers as an efficient method of applying liquid chemical disinfectants to surfaces. This technology may have significant advantages in helping to control infection during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Disinfectant is applied to exercise equipment through an electrostatic sprayer using a backpack model. Sprayer systems are available in
In a nutshell… Disinfecting destroys pathogens, including the coronavirus (COVID-19 virus), on surfaces. One important and frequently overlooked aspect of disinfecting surfaces is allowing sufficient time for the disinfecting product to be in contact with the surface (contact time). This article focuses on the role of time in applying surface disinfectants. As businesses and
In a nutshell… This article discusses guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on cleaning and disinfecting surfaces as Americans return to pre-pandemic life. Surfaces addressed include those in public spaces, workplaces, businesses, schools, and homes. As areas of the United States begin opening
In a nutshell… New concerns have arisen about the potential spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 through improperly connected bathroom sewage pipes in an apartment building in Hong Kong. This article discusses how this new type of transmission could take place, which if confirmed, emphasizes the importance of maintaining properly installed residential drain plumbing to help
In a nutshell… This article provides an update on the coronavirus outbreak that began in central China at the end of 2019 and is currently sweeping the globe. Information on the “2019 Novel Coronavirus” is provided, including its likely animal origin, symptoms, how it is spread, and most importantly, how to help prevent its spread.
In a nutshell… Showerheads provide an ideal environment for some bacteria to grow. Most of those bacteria are harmless, but some can cause serious lung and other infections in persons with lung disease or weak immune systems, such as hospital patients. This article provides an overview of “showerhead safety.” Tip: When removing a showerhead
“C. diff” is the antimicrobial-resistant bacteria Clostridioides difficile.1 It causes symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening colon inflammation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), C. diff causes about half a million illnesses and nearly 15,000 deaths annually. People of any age may become sick. C. diff infections cost Americans about $5.4 billion annually. C. diff is passed from person to person by the oral-fecal route. That is why it is important to wash hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and before preparing or eating meals.
A drug-resistant fungus originally identified in the ear of an elderly woman in Japan in 2009 is raising global health concerns. Candida auris, or “C. auris” (“auris” is Latin for “ear”), is a yeast that is considered an “emerging” pathogen because of rising numbers of infections reported around the globe. C. auris infections are common in medical centers, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities among people who are already ill. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports nearly half of all people who contract the fungal disease die within 90 days. CDC tracks C. auris cases reported in the U.S.
We are all familiar with cleaners, those handy products that help us remove visible debris, dirt, and dust from surfaces. Cleaners play an important role in building maintenance, but they cannot consistently eliminate disease-causing microorganisms (pathogens), such as bacteria and viruses on surfaces. Sanitizers and disinfectants are the antimicrobial products made to destroy those. Disinfectants are used to help halt the spread of infectious illnesses, such as colds, flu, norovirus, and resistant organisms such as MRSA. These infectious illnesses and outbreaks can devastate student or worker attendance and productivity in any institution.
Healthcare associated infections (HAIs) affect about one in 31 hospital patients in the U.S., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Eliminating HAIs is an important public health goal, and one that researchers can help meet by generating the scientific data that lead to “best practices” and engineering solutions that help