Is Your MRI Safe?

Posted in These Categories: Solutions for Hospital Acquired Infections

Medizone International, Inc. (OTCBB and OTCQB: MZEI) (http://medizoneint.com)

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) and HHS expressed their concerns over the lack of information about the number and causes of HAIs related to single-use devices in 2008. A GAO report published in September 2008, found that HAIs, which are among the top 10 causes of death in the U.S, can result from bacteria or viruses that might be introduced to a patient through contact with a medical device in a healthcare setting (D&DL, Oct. 6).

As infection control in MRI practices becomes more of a problem, manufacturers and imaging centers could be held jointly responsible.

Concerns are being raised that the spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus MRSA is in part a consequence of outdated imaging pads and nonexistent cleaning procedures, according to Peter Rothschild, medical director of High Field & Open MRI and president of Patient Comfort Systems.

“It’s important that the imaging community and manufacturers take precautions now before this does become a big issue. It is pretty obvious that this issue has the potential of becoming a huge problem.”

Rothschild recently sent out a public alert about the possible risks of MRSA infections during medical imaging studies. He suggested manufacturers update their equipment by redesigning table pads so they are more state-of-the-art.

Table pads used on MRIs often are torn and frayed, leading to contamination. Some pads are poorly made, and MRSA can penetrate frayed fabric covers that appear intact. “These pads should have been replaced years ago but continue to be used every day,” Rothschild adds.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 1.7 million people in the U.S. contract a hospital-acquired infection (HAI) each year, resulting in more than 100,000 deaths.

Rothschild said until the imaging community and MRI centers take MRSA seriously, more patients will contract the infection following an MRI. “It is only a matter of time before attorneys begin to subpoena MRI centers to obtain the pads for inspection and culturing,” he said.

Utilization of diagnostic imaging tests in the U.S. has increased in recent years, but a decrease in MRI reimbursement has forced imaging centers to rush patients through so they can scan more patients per day, leaving little time for cleaning (D&DL, Nov. 17).

“Infection control has such a low priority in MRI centers that in the hundreds of MRI suites I have visited, I have rarely, if ever, seen a technologist clean the room and pads or even routinely wash their hands between patients, much less have a written infection control procedure,” Rothschild says in a statement.

Medizone International, Inc. is a research and development company engaged in developing its AsepticSure™ System to decontaminate and sterilize hospitals, sports training facilities, schools and other critical infrastructure. A government variant is being developed for bio-terrorism counter measures. Successful decontamination by AsepticSure™ to the 6 log standard or greater has been demonstrated with C.difficile, E coli, Pseudomonas aeruginous, MRSA, VRE and Bacillius subtilis.

Medizone International, Inc.
Post Office Box 742
Stinson Beach, CA 94970
Telephone: 415-868-0300
Fax: 415-868-2344

This release contains certain forward looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the results of ongoing clinical studies, economic conditions, product and technology development, production efficiencies, product demand, competitive products, competitive environment, successful testing and government regulatory issues. Additional risks are identified in the company’s filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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