First-Ever Survey of Infection Control at MRI Centers Finds Appalling Lack of Infection Control Procedures and Basic

NEWARK, CA, May 27 (MARKET WIRE) --
Peter Rothschild, M.D., renowned radiologist and MRI expert, has released
the ground-breaking paper, Survey of Infection Control in the MRI
Environment: Lack of Infection Control Procedures in MRI May Place
Patients and Staff at Risk. This paper documents the lack of infection
control at Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) centers leading to concern
over Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) spread during MRI
scanning.

This first-of-its kind study was prompted by the recent report of MRSA
being cultured from within MRI facilities and the death of Nile Moss, a
healthy 15-year-old boy, from MRSA a few days after an MRI. The goals of
the study were to determine the state of infection control in the MRI
environment and what, if any, obstacles would be faced by patients or
referring physicians when they attempt to determine the state of infection
control at an individual MRI facility.

"Any patient lying on an imaging table could be a carrier capable of
contaminating surfaces in the radiology suite," said Peter Rothschild M.D.
who is attempting to transform the MRI community's attitude concerning
infection control. He added "MRSA and other pathogens can live on common
MRI table pads and positioners for periods as long as several months. This
is why all MRI centers must have written infection control procedures."

He says without written infection control procedures, there can be no
consistent infection control, even at the most basic level. The results of
this survey clearly show that, in the absence of written policies, any
infection control being performed is solely the result of the preferences
and training (or lack thereof) of whomever is operating the MRI.

He advises that patients need to ask questions when they go to a hospital
or imaging center for an MRI scan. What are the cleaning procedures? How
old are the pads? Do the imaging technologists wash their hands between
patients? How do technologists disinfect the MRI table and pads?

Richard Nolan M.D., a well-known orthopedic surgeon with 25 years of
experience with MRIs, has been concerned for years over the lack of
infection control at MRI facilities. He emphasizes, "An infection control
procedure is the first action to assure the public that steps are in place
to prevent life threatening infection in association with the MRI
environment. However, this study clearly shows there is a breakdown of
infection control at most MRI centers, particularly outpatient facilities.
With infectious MRSA cultured out of MRIs, I cannot understand why these
centers will not take these life-threatening Superbugs seriously."

Dr Rothschild advises, "The best way I have found for patients to protect
themselves is to visit the center before their scan and ask to see the
center's written infection control policies. If there are no written
policies, I can assure you that infection control has a low priority at
that MRI center, and I would look for another MRI center where infection
control is taken seriously. Unfortunately, this study shows that few
centers have any written policies concerning infection control in MRI.
Most disconcerting is that there was a tendency to tell the surveyor the
politically correct answer and not the real answer to the questions."

Educating the public

To request a copy of Dr. Rothschild's white papers, "Preventing Infections
in MRI: Best practices for infection control in and around MRI," and
"Infection Control in the MRI Environment: Lack of Infection Control
Procedures in MRI May Place Patients and Staff at Risk," please contact
Doug Kohl, Sierra Communications, (209) 586-5887, or dkohl@mlode.com.

About Peter Rothschild, M.D.

Dr. Peter Rothschild is considered one of the world's foremost MRI
experts. Dr. Rothschild authored the groundbreaking paper, "Infection
Control in MRI," published in Aunt Minnie, a web portal for Radiology. He
formerly served as Medical Director of the research laboratory at the
University of California, San Francisco, where he helped develop the
first commercially available Open MRI scanner. He is the editor of the
first textbook on Open MRI, authored numerous papers on the subject and
is a sought after speaker who lectures on MRI and its future. Dr.
Rothschild is a Board Certified Radiologist and served as an Adjunct
Assistant Professor of Radiology at the University of California, San
Francisco. He earned his Masters degree in 1981 from the University of
Louisville, School of Medicine in Louisville, Kentucky. He is founder and
president of Patient Comfort Systems, an innovative company dedicated to
the advancement of patient comfort and safety.

Contact:
Doug Kohl
Sierra Communications
209) 586-5887
dkohl@mlode.com

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