Contributed Column by
Dr. Rodney E. Rohde

EvaClean Insights is privileged to have Dr. Rodney E. Rohde as a guest columnist for a series of articles on infection prevention. Rodney E. Rohde, PhD, SM (ASCP)^CM, SV^CM, MB^CM, FACSc is a Distinguished Regents’ Professor and Chair of the Medical Laboratory Science Program at Texas State University. Dr. Rohde is a Global Fellow and certified specialist in virology, microbiology, and molecular biology. As a published author and highly regarded speaker, he is recognized as a global subject matter expert on COVID-19, infection prevention, and other important health topics.

Hospitals aren’t the only environments rife with risks of infection. Illnesses are a fact of life that can affect anyone at any time. No matter where an illness originated, it has the potential to spread to others at work, school, or anywhere else. That’s why every facility should care about preventing infections.

In Part I of this three-part column, we’ll take a hard look at the ramifications of illnesses in non-healthcare sectors including industries who rely on a productive workforce, schools that count on attendance, and businesses whose very reputations are at stake. In part II, we’ll pinpoint specific pathogenic threats that cause the most illnesses in certain types of facilities or industries, and most importantly, part III will provide practical strategies for proactive infection prevention.

The Burden of Illnesses

Most people spend at least a third of their lives at work where they stand a greater chance of exposure to biological agents like viruses, bacteria, and fungi that cause illnesses. Though most employers try to provide a safe working environment, occupational diseases abound, some of which can have long-term health consequences for employees as well as pose significant financial burdens on businesses.

Missed workdays are a good indicator of the scope of impact that illnesses can have. Influenza alone is responsible for the loss of about 111 million workdays a year, costing U.S. employers approximately $11.2 billion annually.

In 2021, private industry reported a median of 12 to 13 missed workdays due to viruses other than Covid, with higher numbers in select verticals such as manufacturing, construction, transportation, and warehousing. Public facing businesses are susceptible to the same risks and losses as private industry but have the added pressure of keeping reputations intact to keep patrons coming back. 75% of consumers will not visit a restaurant with negative reviews about its cleanliness. Customer confidence means everything in food services, hospitality, retail, and other public venues.

In education, illnesses that cause absenteeism can have far-reaching implications for schools, students, and staff. Teachers in the U.S. miss about 9 or 10 days annually, which not only impacts learning but costs schools an estimated $25 billion or more per year. When combined with chronic student absenteeism due to poor health, costs skyrocket.

The good news is most illnesses are preventable when proactive measures are in place. Though protecting health is the number one reason to take preventative action, it literally pays facilities to elevate hygiene practices to prevent the burden of illnesses.

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