Press Releases at EMSL

Last month, The Blade published an article about an outbreak of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections at Heidelberg University in Ohio. The outbreak was initially noted on the first day of classes and according to the news story, 20 students have reported symptoms and there were four confirmed cases within a short period of time.

The university’s administration responded by sending out an email alert to people on campus about the outbreak and brought in additional cleaning and disinfection resources. These services were put to use in the students’ residential areas, locker rooms and weight training facilities used by athletes.

“Students and faculty can be susceptible to MRSA infections after having contact with someone’s skin infection, personal items they have used and from touching contaminated surfaces,” said Jason Dobranic, Ph.D., Vice President of Microbiology and Life Sciences at EMSL Analytical, Inc.  “Student athletes are often the first to become infected as contaminated items such as gym mats, weight equipment, towels, bandages or razors can easily spread MRSA.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that when MRSA infections occur, cleaning and disinfection should be performed to prevent additional infections. Disinfection professionals are advised to focus on surfaces that touch people’s bare skin each day and any surfaces that could come into contact with uncovered infections.

EMSL Analytical, Inc. offers surface testing services for MRSA to help prevent infections, identify the source of an outbreak and to ensure that cleaning and disinfection procedures are working.  EMSL has also sponsored an educational video about MRSA that can be seen at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf1Zn3t-A5U.

To learn more about environmental testing for microbial pathogens or other environmental, health and safety testing services, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com.

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