What is the best air purifier for your industry? Are you in healthcare, eldercare, IVF industry, cancer treatment centers, childcare, or even farming? Are diseases, infections, or allergies a serious problem or concern? No matter your area of expertise -- malignant microbes can have a huge impact on your operations cost, reputation, employees, mortality rate, and overall success of your industry. Most of the attention for “cleaning up” the problems of ramped disease and infection are focused on washing hands and cleaning and sanitizing surfaces and equipment. These are essential protocols in reducing malignant microbes in the indoor environment. But is it enough? The impact of indoor air is all too often underestimated but can be a major contributor of the distribution of malignant pathogens throughout a facility.
Air filtration is being utilized in many of the industries mentioned above but what about those pathogens that are too small to be filtered out. So what are the options to having cleaner air? Why not step it up a bit and purify the air and destroy the germs. What is the best air purifier?
Photocatalytic oxidation is the proven technology that does destroy airborne pathogens. Why not have the best air purifier for your industry? When the combination of washing hands, cleaning and sanitizing surfaces and equipment and using the best air purifier to clean up the indoor environment are used malignant microbes can be significantly reduced, operations costs decrease, lives of patients and employees are saved, and the individuals medical expenses will be reduced. Having the best air purifier is one other important aspect of running a successful and efficient industry.
http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/news/2011/12/us-demand-for-infection-prevention-products-to-rise-51-percent-annually-through-2015.aspx 
Infection prevention is and continues to be a major concern in the United States and throughout the world. MRSA, VRE, and C-diff are at the top of most everyone’s list currently of malignant microbes that need to be eradicated in the hospital and healthcare environment. This article states due to…” stepped-up efforts by medical providers to reduce the incidence and mortality of healthcare-associated infections,…” that there will be in increase in the demand for infection prevention products.
“Hospitals and other healthcare establishments are adopting stricter standards…” This is exciting news for the infection prevention product industry, but the patients, visitors, and medical staff are the ones that will benefit most from higher standards.
“Patient and staff hygiene and protection, facility cleaning and disinfection, device and instrument sterilization, and medical waste collection and disposal” the article states, will be the main focus of higher standards.
Education of engineers that design and build hospitals and healthcare facilities is extremely important. The infection prevention begins from the ground up. MRSA, VRE, and C-diff are all airborne. Designing and installing air purification and filtration can significantly reduce airborne pathogens thereby reducing the amount of surface, staff, and patient contamination. An infection prevention product such as air purification using photocatalytic oxidation can destroy airborne malignant microbes. Air purification combined with strict hygiene by medical staff, surface cleaning and sterilization saves lives and reduces costs for the facilities, and patients.
http://www.koat.com/health/30183171/detail.html
MRSA airborne has affected the Belen High School in New Mexico. They have cleaned the gym over and over again but seem to still be having outbreaks. They are concerned that many of the students are not taking home their change of clothes and washing them frequently enough. 12 students have reported having staph infections. The school was concerned they had not warned parents soon enough.
MRSA airborne is just that “airborne”. Too many people think you can only get it from direct contact from another infected individual; this is the most common way to become infected with these insidious bacteria. However, touching surfaces, wearing clothes, or using towels or even soap or deodorant that have come in contact with an infected person or the bacteria that has settled on a surface can also infect others with MRSA airborne.
When patients enter hospitals many are swabbed for MRSA in their nostrils. How did it get into their nostrils many may inquire? Would airborne MRSA be too much for us to deal with in our hospitals, clinics, laboratories, schools, gyms and any other place of assembly?
A quote from research done in 2001 in Japan it states, “In this study, it was confirmed that MRSA could be acquired by medical staff and patients through airborne transmission.”1
So why doesn’t anyone talk about this? It is not anything recently discovered. We are talking ten years ago. Be sure to think about Photocatalytic Oxidation air purification along with all the other cleaning/sanitation practices currently used to reduce the spread of MRSA airborne.
1. "Significance of Airborne Transmission of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Unit" by Teruo Shiomori, MD, PhD; Hiroshi Miyamoto, MD, PhD; Kazumi Makishima, MD, PhD. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.2001; 127:644-648
Airborne Infections in Nursing Homes is of great concern to the staff, patients, and loved
ones. When a person is unable to care for themselves independently and family members are overwhelmed, unprepared, or unable to give the kind of care their loved one needs to insure a good quality of life a Nursing home may be the best alternative. When deciding which long term care facility would best fill the needs of the individual one concern that may not be in the forefront is airborne infections. While overall physical appearance of a nursing home is extremely important it is what you cannot see that perhaps can be the most critical element for the physical health of the employees, caretakers, and residents. The potential infectious pathogens in the ambient air can be a major source of infection and disease in long term care facilities.
“Almost as many nosocomial infections occur annually in nursing homes as in hospitals in the United States1 (Haley et al 1985).
Potential airborne infections in Nursing Homes include viruses such as Adenovirus, Coronavirus, Coxsackievirus, Influenza, Metapneumovirus, Norwalk virus, Parainfluenza, Rhinovirus, Rotavirus, and RSV. The sources of most of these are humans. Norwalk virus and Adenovirus are said to be from the environment. All of these along with many bacteria are listed in Wladyslaw Kowalski's book 'Hospital Airborne Infection Control' page 218. Some of the more common bacteria listed in this book are MRSA, Streptococcus pheumoniae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and VRE.
Filtering and purifying the air in hospitals and nursing care facilities is of vital importance to the overall health and well being of caretakers as well as patients or residents. Photocatalytic Oxidation is one of the best technologies utilized for air purification.
1. Hospital Airborne Infection Control; Wladyslaw Kowalski
Wladyslaw Kowalski’s newest book is now available. It is titled “Hospital Airborne Infection Control”.
At a glance the book defines and clarifies airborne pathogens found in hospitals and nursing homes. He also discusses air and surface sampling methods, hand hygiene, ICU and patients rooms, surgical site infections, pediatrics, immunocompromised and burn wound infections to name a few. There are over 300 pages of outstanding essential information that could significantly aid in educating engineers and medical staff on infection control in their facilities. It is a must read!
“Wladyslaw Jan Kowalski, PE, PhD is an expert in the control of airborne diseases and the design of immune building systems for bioterrorism defense.”1 He has written many articles relating to biodefense, air cleaning technology, and hospital air disinfection. His degrees include a BS in mechanical engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology, an MS and PhD in architectural engineering from Pennsylvania State University.
Wladyslaw Kowalski has also published “Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation Handbook: UVGI for Air and Surface Disinfection”, “Aerobiological Engineering Handbook: Airborne Disease and Control Technologies (McGraw Hill Handbooks)”, and “Immune Building Systems Technology”.
Wladyslaw Kowalski discusses photocatalytic oxidation in several of the books listed above and shares the benefits of this technology being used in air purification.
1. http://www.actionbioscience.org/newfrontiers/kowalski.html
Three of Wladyslaw Kowalsji books :
Aerobiological Engineering Handbook: ISBN 0-07-140245-4
Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation Handbook: ISBN 978-3-642-01998-2
Hospital Airborne Infection Control: ISBN 978-1-4398-21969-1
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/01/03/return-bird-flu-chinese-man-dies/
Avian Influenza -bird flu has recently taken the life of a 39 year old bus driver in China. He had been admitted to the hospital December 25 with symptoms of severe pneumonia. He died from multiple organ failures within a week. He had tested positive for Avian Influenza -bird flu.
Avian Influenza -bird flu is also known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza HPAI and H5N1. Avian Influenza (bird flu) is named as such because it is mainly found in birds and is highly contagious among them. Humans can and have acquired this deadly virus such as the man spoken of in this article but it is not common. The Avian Influenza -bird flu is often fatal in birds’ especially domestic birds and has a 60% mortality rate in humans. “…Nearly 600 human H5N1 cases have been reported in 15 countries to WHO (World Health Organization) since November 2003”1
“As of 2011, the U.S. Food and Agriculture Organization considers six countries to be endemic for HPAI H5N1 virus in poultry (Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Vietnam). “ 2 In this same report from the CDC, it is indicated that H5N1 has also been found in cats, dogs, tigers, leopards, and a wild stone marten.
It is essential that we stay up to date with world health issues so we can be prepared to fight disease and illness as it mutates and affects humans and animals. Know the latest technology such as photocatalytic oxidation and how it can benefit your overall health. Be sure to check out the links below for further information on Avian Influenza (bird flu).
1. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/h5n1-people.htm
2. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/h5n1-animals.htm
http://www.who.int/influenza/human_animal_interface/avian_influenza/en/
http://yementimes.com/defaultdet.aspx?SUB_ID=35010 
Measles, Rubeola or Morbilli are the names often associated with this deadly airborne pathogen. It is also known as “red measles," or "hard measles".
Measles, Rubeola or Morbilli is one of the most highly contagious airborne viruses, known as the paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Children and even adults can become infected with Measles, Rubeola or Morbilli, but most often children are the victims. 32 children have died since September in Lawder in the southern Yemeni governorate of Abyan. When poor diet and living conditions are the norm in these children’s lives they are very vulnerable to this and many other debilitating diseases. Here are just three very shocking statements made in this article,
1. “In 2008, there were 164, 000 measles deaths globally – nearly 450 deaths every day or 18 deaths every hour, according to the WHO.” (World Health Organization)
2. “More than 95 percent of measles deaths occur in low-income countries with weak health infrastructures.”
3. “But measles vaccination resulted in a 78 percent drop in measles deaths between 2000 and 2008 worldwide,” the article states.
Too often the “airborne” transmission route of carrying viruses, diseases, and illness, are overlooked. Many speak of surface contamination or person to person contact as a means of spreading germs and they are correct in their analogies but looking beyond the obvious we need to think about the indoor ambient air. How do surfaces become contaminated? Airborne pathogens can settle on surfaces and then be touched by unsuspecting individuals and transported into the eyes, nose, or mouth. Breathing can invite those airborne pathogens into the lungs. Saving lives through disease prevention includes, washing hands frequently, cleaning and sanitizing surfaces, vaccinations, and air purification using photocatalytic oxidation.
http://www.sciencealert.com.au/features/20112706-22320-2.html
TiO2 Benefits are many and in this recent article titled “Helicon Healing” ScienceWise magazine explains how Dr Christian Sarra-Bournet, a physicist, explores the possibilities of TiO2 being used for destruction of bacteria in nosocomial infections and coating of implants such as knees and hip replacements. According to Dr.Christian Sarra-Bournet ,“TiO2, is an excellent biocompatible material and possesses bioactive properties”
“Nosocomial Infections are those acquired whilst being treated in hospital(s) for other conditions and are of very serious concern to the medical community. They are one of the major causes of death in hospitals, accounting for almost 100,000 annual fatalities in the USA alone.”
“Titanium Dioxide TiO2 is most well known as the white pigment used in paints, but… TiO2 benefits are not limited to paint alone… ‘it has many other interesting properties. In its crystalline form, TiO2 is a semiconductor that exhibits some extraordinary photocatalytic properties. When ultra violet light shines on a TiO2 crystal, it generates electron-hole pairs, which can migrate to the surface to serve as a source of free electrons and electron absorbers. These form the basis for oxidation and reduction reactions, which can in turn create free radicals which attack the cell wall of bacteria, ultimately killing them. “One of the limitations of TiO2 is that its large band gap requires ultra violet light to generate the electron hole pairs,” So Dr. Christian Sarra-Bournet discovered that” by creating a material with the same antibacterial properties that’s sensitive to visible light, we have something much more practical.”
Click on the link above to view TiO2 benefits written about in this article.
* Copyright permission granted by Tim Wetherell ScienceWise Editor December 27,2011
http://topnews.us/content/245237-norovirus-shuts-bedford-and-northwick-park-hospital-wards
Norovirus strikes again and is suspected of causing serious problems in Bedford and Northwick hospitals in England to the point of having to shut down 82 beds out of 500 in the Northwick Hospital. Similar problems occurred in Belford Hospital which resulted in closing the Richard Wells Ward. Concerns of rapidly spreading Norovirus (which is a highly contagious) pushed authorities in making that decision. Visitation restrictions are also in place allowing only one visitor per patient. Officials advise anyone who has symptoms of diarrhea or vomiting to stay home and contact their healthcare provider.
Norovirus is an airborne pathogen and can spread by person to person contact, contact with surfaces infected with the virus and from Norovirus “particles carried in the air” (stated in the article’s last paragraph).
Symptoms of Norovirus may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Additional symptoms may also include headache, weakness, muscle aches, and even a low grade fever.
Common places known to have rapid outbreaks of Norovirus are long term nursing facilities, cruise ships, hospitals, prisons, and any other places of assembly or grouped living quarters, such as college dorms.
The best lines of defense should include hand washing especially after using the toilet and before eating or preparing food, surface cleaning and sanitation, and air purification using photocatalytic oxidation.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Norovirus/Pages/Introduction.aspx
Norovirus can be transmitted by air, food, water, person to person, or surfaces contaminated by fecal matter from an infected person or settling from the airborne route. Possible contaminated water sources can include wells, lakes, pools, municipal water supplies, and even ice machines. Foods most often associated with Norovirus are shellfish and salads.
According to this article 600,000 to one million individual Norovirus cases in the UK are reported each year. The CDC has indicated more than 20 million cases of gastroenteritis are caused by Norovirus in the United States annually and of those reported cases approximately 70,000 are hospitalized and 800 people die.1
Norovirus cannot be treated with antibiotics because it is a virus. It is essential that proper care be taken if contracting Norovirus or any stomach virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Generally it is not a life threatening disease, but individuals with Norovirus can become dehydrated and if not rehydrated can face a life threatening situation. Those most vulnerable are children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.
Symptoms of Norovirus may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Additional symptoms may also include headache, weakness, muscle aches, and even a low grade fever.
Prevention is the key. Washing hands is always the first line of defense, especially after using the toilet, and before eating, touching your face, eyes, nose or mouth, or handling any food.. Avoid crowds when possible, wash raw vegetables, and avoid drinking and eating after others.
Surface cleaning and sanitation using chlorine based disinfectants and air purification using photocatalytic oxidation are also very significant for reducing airborne pathogens and the spread of disease. There is no 100% guarantee you will never become ill at one time or another but if you follow careful hygiene and utilize air purification equipment it will greatly lessen your chances of contracting Norovirus or any other contagious illness.
1. http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Norovirus/
http://voices.yahoo.com/norovirus-nv-infection-airborne-offensive-2354433.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norovirus