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AN unexplainable source of micro-organisms threatens the cancer patient ward in a leading regional hospital and three patients succumb to a dangerous infection; an entire juice plant is contaminated with a mysterious source of microbes.
These are not storylines from science-fiction flicks but rather real life incidents which have been tackled by Brian Prystupa ... the bug exterminator of Bahrain.
Dr Prystupa, a PhD in chemistry and biology with a degree in entomology - the study of insects - is a division manager for Reza Health Tec at Reza Hygiene.
His speciality is the chemistry of cleaning and is primarily involved in industrial hygiene which includes basic cleaning and disinfection of industrial plant, food safety, infection control and pest control in factories, hotels, restaurants and hospitals.
He travels extensively around the GCC and when he is called in to rid an environment of possible micro-organisms he looks in the most unusual places for contamination.
Hygiene specialist Dr Brian Prystupa peeks into large cooling tunnels and ventilation shafts, tears down wallpapers in hospitals and smells and feels questionable goo.
"My job is unusual and interesting given the nature and diversity of it. My team and I inspect the site and investigate the source of microbes. We then identify a solution and develop and modify the organisation's procedures to solve the problem to get better results. We follow the process by staff training on how to implement and continue higher standards of hygiene.
"By training we are actually fixing the problem and getting out rather than coming back again and again to offer a temporary solution," explained the Canadian professional.
"It's all about spotting dangerous disease-causing germs and developing a strategy to eradicate them on a long-term basis. The interesting facet of my job is to figure out how to fix the problem."
Dr Prystupa has gone into hospitals in the Middle East where disease has spread and the hospital hasn't been able to identify the cause and source.
"Once I went to a children's cancer ward where patients had already died from infection. We looked everywhere for signs of contamination but couldn't find a source.
"Then I discovered a black mark behind the door of the ward which reappeared repeatedly after being cleaned. I ripped the wallpaper to investigate the mark and spores of microbes like black pepper flew into the air.
"We discovered that the fungus was causing infections in patients," said Dr Prystupa quoting countless cases of contamination.
"There was another case of babies dying in incubators in a hospital in the region. Cancer patients and babies are susceptible to respiratory infections. So I went and inspected the cleaning of incubators which was perfect but what they were doing was putting the dirty cord that basically trailed on the floor inside the clean incubator when it was not in use which transferred the bacteria inside the device. So we developed a new cleaning and storage system for the incubator," he added.
The 51-year-old cleaning expert believes that countless micro-organisms and insects can be controlled using state-of-the-art technology. Ultra Low Volume (ULV) is a new technique where a hair spray amount of chemical is used to sterilise an environment.
"Whereas previously 30 gallons of chemicals were employed to kill insects and microbes, now with the 21st century technology, 30 millimetres of chemical can disinfect the same area." According to Dr Prystupa, the chemicals have not changed but their application has altered dramatically.
Microbe disasters can result in cross contamination within a facility and can lead to food poisoning. Cutting and grinding machines in major supermarkets, if not cleaned frequently and immaculately, are a prime example of a potential microbial disaster. "Pieces of meat stuck to such machines could rot and cause disease. So we normally advise them to clean repeatedly within a certain number of hours during the day to avoid this," he said.
Bahrain is a hotbed of microbial issues because of high temperatures and humidity. Microbes multiply in humid conditions on food residues. Bacteria and microbes are continuously present in our environment and the trick is to keep them from multiplying says Dr Prystupa.
"After our day jobs are finished we are usually covered with microbes and bacteria. Humans act as an aircraft for bugs; taking them from place to place. The only way to remain healthy is to protect ourselves as we cannot completely eliminate micro-organisms. Insects and microbes will rule the earth long after humans die."
Dr Brian Prystupa's fact-file
Hometown: Winnipeg, Canada
Years spent in the Middle East: 10 years in Saudi Arabia and two years in Bahrain.
Residence in Bahrain: Barbar.
Loves to read: Books on germs, environmental chemistry, insects and microbes.
Hobbies: Scuba diving and macro photography. Brian is a PADI dive instructor.
Family: Wife, Mona and 18 month-old-daughter, Terra.
His take on the cleanliness of his own house: I don't worry about my house because I see so many awful cleanliness issues outside. But my wife is fanatical about cleaning and gets frustrated by the dust.
Protect yourself
Microbes thrive in Bahrain's weather conditions given the high temperatures and humidity. It is important to give special consideration to time and temperature of food. Also avoid cross-contamination of food especially when working with raw food in the kitchen.
Keep cooked and raw food separate and special care should be taken to wash vegetable as these are covered with bacteria. Chopping boards should be cleaned often and kept in a dry place as microbes multiply on wet and moist surfaces.
Pets especially cats are a breeding ground for micro-organisms and bacteria as they go through garbage which putrefies very quickly in Bahrain's high temperatures. Dry vacuum or micro fibre dry mops should be used instead of a wet mop in the house. If a wet mop is used for cleaning then a dry mop should be used after it to lift away any germs.
