Cochrane & Associates, LLC news

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air, a concern that extends beyond residences to workplaces, schools, and other commercial or institutional spaces across Puerto Rico.

Everyday activities and materials often release microscopic pollutants that can affect breathing and overall well-being. Among the most common indoor respiratory irritants are:

Dust and Dust Mites: These microscopic organisms

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describe Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as a type of staph that can be resistant to several antibiotics. The agency cautions that anyone can get a MRSA infection or carry MRSA. The risks increase for those with hospitalizations or nursing home stays, skin-to-skin contact with others, and exposure to crowded or unhygienic places.

MRSA can survive on some surfaces, like towels, razors, and furnitur

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) describes work-related asthma as asthma triggered by exposures at work. The agency reports that there are over 300 known substances in the workplace that can cause or worsen asthma.

Symptoms of work-related asthma are the same as those for non-work-related asthma, and may include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. NIOSH warns that asthma symptoms can come and go, and some workers

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that Group A Streptococcus (group A strep bacteria) can cause many different infections, ranging from minor to serious. The agency also warns the bacteria, of which Streptococcus pyogenes is the predominant species, can cause inflammatory diseases.

Examples of minor infections listed include impetigo, scarlet fever, and strep throat. Some of the serious infections listed by the CDC include cellulitis, necrotizin

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports there are an estimated 450,000 cases of shigellosis, an infection caused by Shigella bacteria, in the United States each year. Unfortunately, a growing number of these infections involve drug-resistant Shigella.

The four species of Shigella listed by the CDC include:

Shigella sonnei (the most common species in the United States)
Shigella flexneri
Shigella boydii
Shigella dysenteriae

Klebsiella is described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a type of gram-negative bacteria that can cause different types of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). These include pneumonia, bloodstream infections, wound or surgical site infections, and meningitis.

Klebsiella are normally found in the human intestines (where they do not cause disease), and also in human feces. The CDC reports that in healthcare settings, Klebsiella infec

Aeroallergens, which are airborne substances such as mold or pollen that can trigger an allergic reaction in some people following inhalation or dermal contact, are often found in dust. In some asthmatics, aeroallergens could trigger an asthma attack, or potentially worsen other respiratory diseases.

When dust is airborne, it can remain in the air for long periods of time and settle throughout an indoor space. This dust can contain a number of different substances, including numerous

The IAQ Video Network and Cochrane & Associates announced the release of their latest educational video today. Their newest production discusses latex allergy, which is a reaction to certain proteins found in latex rubber.

“Natural latex rubber has been used in many products over the years,” said Paul Cochrane, President of Cochrane & Associates and the IAQ Video Network. “Unfortunately, sensitivity to latex exposure can develop in some people. R

Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month is just a few weeks away, and this year, the 6th of May is recognized as World Asthma Day. The month of May is dedicated to asthma control and education to increase awareness about the disease and how those with it can prevent or mitigate exposures to asthma triggers, allergens, and respiratory irritants.

Asthma is one of the most common lifelong chronic diseases in Puerto Rico and across the rest of the United States, according to the C

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is described by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as a potentially dangerous type of staph bacteria. Staph, which is commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people, can sometimes cause infections, but most of these skin infections are minor.

With MRSA, which is staph that is resistant to an antibiotic known as methicillin, and often resistant to other antibiotics as well, the