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Detection Is the First Step in Eradicating a Health Threat

Detection Is the First Step in Eradicating a Health Threat

Jun 5, 2019
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada – The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is alerting laboratories and healthcare facilities throughout North America that Candida auris (C. auris), a drug-resistant type of fungus, is being found in laboratories, hospitals, nursing homes, and other types of healthcare environments.
As of April 2019, the state of New York confirmed 319 cases of the disease. Nearly 60 percent of those that contract the disease die from it.
Along with it being drug-resistant, large pharmaceutical companies are spending fewer resources on the development of new antimicrobial drugs that could potentially treat the disease and prevent deaths. This means the likelihood of a treatment coming anytime soon is not likely.
“If there are no treatments, the only option administrators have is prevention, and that’s where detection and effective cleaning comes in,” says Brad Evans, CEO of OptiSolve, an imaging company that helps cleaning staff locate hidden pathogens on surfaces. The following is more information Evans says the cleaning industry needs to know about C. auris:
What is C. auris?
C. auris was discovered in 2009. It severely sickens patients, but if it enters the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body, very often, it kills the patient.
Why is it hard to treat?
In addition to the fact that pharmaceutical companies are not investing time and resources into finding a cure, it is often hard to identify C. auris in lab tests. Further, those afflicted with the disease are often misdiagnosed.
What are the symptoms?
Typically, it causes chills and high fever. Doctors become aware there is a problem when these symptoms persist even after antibiotics have been prescribed.
Exactly how many people have been diagnosed with C. aurisin the US?
As of March 2019, there have been 617 cases in 12 US states, according to the CDC. In Canada, there have been only a few cases so far.
How does it spread?
The fungus colonizes on a patient’s skin where it can transfer to surfaces. “This is where detection and effective cleaning comes into the picture. If C. auris is suspected in a facility, the first thing administrators and cleaning professionals must do is turn to imaging technologies to see if and where pathogens may be hidden on surfaces. With this uncovered, the next step is effective cleaning to remove the fungus.”
About OptiSolve
A Canadian-based company, OptiSolve provides a vulnerability assessment service using proprietary surface imaging technology. The system produces high quality images to proactively reveal where pathogens remain before and after cleaning, providing visual results as well as evidence-based recommendations to assist with proactive prevention and training. The outcome is healthier spaces and validation that investments in cleaning activities are being maximized. More information is available at https://optisolve.net. Company contact, Brad Evans, brad.evans@optisolve.net

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