Clinical Infectious Disease Control Research Unit
CIDC Mission
To study microbial contamination in healthcare facilities and public places, and to make recommendations to prevent transmission of infectious agents, creating a safer world.
Clinical Infectious Disease Control Research Unit
ELC 2020 Handouts:
Clinical Infectious Disease Glossary
Recent Events and Recognitions
June 2022
Drs. Spratt and Levine were interviewed by Infection Control Today on Infection Prevention in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Drs. Spratt and Levine presented 2 papers at the Association for Professionals in Infection Control Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, June 2022.
"Surveillance of Staphylococci Presence in and Around Neonate Isolette Beds in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a Children’s Hospital" and "Bacterial Contamination of Floors in a Hematology/Oncology unit in a Children’s Hospital."
Drs. Spratt and Levine giving a Poster Presentation
June 24, 2020
Interview of Dr. Henry Spratt by WRCB TV News Channel 3 in Chattanooga
The US Food and Drug Administration issued a warning encouraging Americans to avoid using hand sanitizer produced in Mexico by Eskbiochem. Of the nine brands included in the warning, “Clean Care No Germ Advanced Hand Sanitizer” was found to have 80% methanol as its active ingredient. The other brands were also found to have high concentrations of methanol as their active ingredients. The major problem with these hand sanitizers is the fact that methanol is highly toxic to humans. Methanol, also known as “wood alcohol” has been known to be toxic due to its ingestion for many years. However, there are other routes for exposure to this alcohol. In addition to ingestion, methanol may be adsorbed through the skin or in vapor form via respiration. When adsorbed or inhaled, the toxic effects of methanol take additional time to effect the person exposed to the alcohol, compared with ingestion. Regardless of the route of intake, methanol is metabolized by the liver to produce formic acid, which is easily converted into formaldehyde (embalming fluid). Toxic effects of methanol exposure may include general neurological issues, with blurred vision commonly occurring. Worst case exposure to methanol can lead to blindness or death. Thus, use of any of the brands of methanol-containing hand sanitizers should be avoided.
June 2020
Dr. Levine gave a live Q & A for the American Physical Therapy Association on Keeping Safe While Reopening Outpatient Clinics During the COVID-19 Pandemic
July, 2018 - We, the Clinical Infectious Disease Control Research Unit, would like to thank the Weldon Osborne Foundation for their $30,000 contribution which will allow us to purchase additional equipment to enhance our ability for molecular analysis of pathogens!
March, 2018 - Two presentations and one poster were given by Drs. Spratt, Giles, and Levine, along with their students, Victoria Noyes, Katie Noonan, and Jessica Ammon at the 79th annual meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists in Myrtle Beach, SC.
January 12, 2018 - David Levine and Henry Spratt presented a seminar to the University of Tennessee Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology titled, “Healthcare-Associated Infections and Prevention Strategies in Clinical Settings”, in Knoxville, TN.
June 7, 2017 - Henry Spratt and David Levine gave a presentation at the 2017 USPHS Scientific and Training Symposium entitled, "Healthcare-associated infections and prevention strategies for the rehabilitation professions".
Dr. Henry Spratt talks about his 35 years of studying bacteria and soils, and where he is at now. Check it out in this CIDC YouTube video above!
Team Members
UTC Faculty
Henry Spratt, PhD (Biology, Geology, and Environmental Science)
Davy Giles, PhD (Biology, Geology, and Environmental Science)
Margaret Kovach, PhD (Biology, Geology, and Environmental Science)
David Levine, PT, PhD, DPT (Physical Therapy)
Susan McDonald, EdD, OTR/L (Occupational Therapy)
Robyn Tobias MSN, NP-C (Nursing)
Laurel Rhyne, MSN, APRN, ACNP-BC, Med (Nursing)
Randy Walker, PT, PhD (Physical Therapy)
Julie Bage, PT, DPT (Physical Therapy)
June Hanks, PT, PhD, DPT (Physical Therapy)
Local Partners
Dr. Anuj Sinha, DO (Medical Director Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Children’s Hospital at Erlanger, Clinical Associate Professor Vanderbilt University Medical Group)
Charles Wood, MD (UTCOM/Erlanger)
Jennifer Keates-Baleeiro, MD, MA (UTCOM/Children’s Hospital-Erlanger)
Meghann McManus, DO, MPH (UTCOM/Children’s Hospital-Erlanger)
Leisa Haslerig, CCRP (UTCOM/Erlanger)
Mark Rowin, MD (UTCOM/Children’s Hospital-Erlanger)
Janara Huff, MD (UTCOM/Children’s Hospital-Erlanger)
Sarah Harding, MD (UTCOM/Children’s Hospital-Erlanger)
Erin Reade, MD (UTCOM/Children’s Hospital-Erlanger)
Susan Berry, RN (UTCOM/Children’s Hospital-Erlanger)
Paige Klingborg, MD (UTCOM/Children’s Hospital-Erlanger)
Mark Brzezienski, MD (UTCOM/Erlanger)
Matthew Epps, MD (UTCOM/Erlanger)
Alan Kohrt, MD (UTCOM/Children’s Hospital-Erlanger)
Rachel Keilman, MD (UTCOM/Children’s Hospital-Erlanger)
Current Projects
Environmental contamination in a Long Term Acute Care Facility and recommendations for disinfection protocols. David Levine, PT, PhD, DPT, Henry Spratt, PhD, June Hanks, PT, PhD, DPT
The Efficacy of Antibacterial Saline Wash during Placement of Breast Prosthesis in Bacterial Load Reduction. Henry Spratt, PhD, Matthew Epps, MD, David Levine, PT, PhD, DPT, Mark Brzezienski, MD, Maddison Melchionna
Topical lotions utilized in outpatient rehabilitation clinics as a potential source of bacterial contamination. Henry G. Spratt, Jr., Ph.D., David Levine, PT, Ph.D., DPT, Julie Bage, PT, DPT, David Giles, Ph.D., A. Grace Collier, B.S.
Disinfection protocols for GelShot Ultrasound Retaining Clips. Henry G Spratt, Jr., Ph,D., David Levine, PT, Ph.D., DPT, Leah Helton, B.S.
Survival rates of three strains of potentially pathogenic bacteria on ultrasound heads, and the effectiveness of disinfectant agents on their survival. Henry G. Spratt, Jr., Ph.D., David Levine, PT, Ph.D., DPT, Susan McDonald, Ed.D, OTR/L
Potential for bacterial contamination as a result of dry needling (presented at the Tennessee Physiological Society, 2015). Henry Spratt, David Levine, Randy Walker, Robyn Tobias, Heather Harmon, Brittany Rock, Zac Cooper, Dacey Winkleman
Environmental factors related to nosocomial infection in hospital intensive care units in children hospitals: Assessment and recommendations for practice. Henry G. Spratt, Jr., Ph.D., David Levine, PT, Ph.D, DPT, David Giles, Ph.D., Alan Kohrt, M.D., Janara Huff, M.D., Mark Rowin, M.D., Erin Parrish Reade, M.D., Paige Klingborg, M.D., Sarah Harding, M.D., and Susan Berry RN, BSN, CIC.
Assessment of Potential Bacterial Contamination, and the Development of Disinfection Protocols for Audiology and Speech Pathology Clinics. This work is in collaboration with faculty in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Department at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN. Henry G. Spratt, Jr., Ph.D., David Levine, PT, Ph.D., DPT, Patti Johnstone, Ph.D.
Recent Events
Levine, D., H. Spratt, J. Hanks. 2020. Beyond Universal Precautions - Curricular Content in Infection Control and Prevention. Presented at the American Physical Therapy Associations, Education Leadership Conference (Virtual, Panel Presentation), October 16, 2020. Note, this was a 50 minute panel discussion.
Levine, D., H. Spratt, L. Brunton, J. Ledbetter, K. Gentner, C. Woods, & J. Hanks. 2020. Comparison of viable environmental bacterial prevalence and species in outpatient general medicine and pulmonary units. American Journal of Infection Control, 48:S15-S58 (ST144).
Spratt, H., D. Levine, J. Hanks, G. Price, K. Gentner, L. Brunton, C. Woods, & J. Ledbetter. 2020. Colonization of environmental methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a newly constructed children’s outpatient clinic. American Journal of Infection Control, 48:S15-S58 (ST143).
Levine, D., H. Spratt, J. Hanks, C. Woods, J. Ledbetter, K. Gentner, & L. Brunton. 2020. Comparison of Bacterial Contamination in a Children’s Outpatient Clinic: General Medicine Versus Pulmonary Units. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 41(S1), S177-S177. doi:10.1017/ice.2020.708.
Spratt, H., D. Levine, C. Woods, J. Ledbetter, & G. Price. 2020. Bacterial Colonization of Waiting Rooms in a Newly Constructed Children’s Outpatient Clinic: Construction Through 6 Months After Opening In Waiting Rooms. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 41(S1), S136-S137. doi:10.1017/ice.2020.651.
Spratt, H., D. Levine, & J. Bracket. Bacterial Colonization of the Environment of Veterinary Rehabilitation Clinics. Poster presented at the 82nd Annual meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists (a virtual meeting), March 2021.
Publications & Peer-Reviewed Research Presentations
Spratt, Henry G., Jr., David Levine, Susan McDonald, Sarah Drake, Katherine Duke, Casey Kluttz, and Kate Noonan. 2019. Survival of Staphylococcus aureus on therapeutic ultrasound heads. American Journal of Infection Control. 47:1157-1159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2019.02.019.
Epps, Mathew T., Sarah Langsdon, Taylor K. Pels, Victoria Noyes, David Levine, Todd E. Thurston, Henry G. Spratt, and Mark A. Brzezienski. 2019. Pocket irrigation and technique during reconstructive surgery. Annals of Plastic Surgery, 82(6S):S427-S432.
Spratt, H. G., Jr., D. Levine, J. Bage, D. K. Giles, and A. G. Collier. 2018. Topical lotions utilized in outpatient rehabilitation clinics as a potential source of bacterial contamination. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice. DOI: 10.1080/09593985.2018.1441935.
Noyes,V., H. G. Spratt, Jr., D.Levine, M. A. Brzezienski, and M. Epps. 2018. An in vitroAnalysis of the Relative Efficacies of Antibiotic Solutions vs. Antiseptics Used for Irrigation in Breast Augmentation Surgery. Ann. meeting, Assoc. SE Biologists.
Spratt, H. G., Jr., D. Levine, S. McDonald, S. Drake, K. Duke, C. Kluttz, and K. Noonan. 2018. Survival of Staphylococcus aureus on ultrasound transducer heads used in healthcare. Ann. meeting, Assoc. SE Biologists.
Ammon, J. C. Smith, D. Levine, H. Spratt, and D. Giles. 2018. Molecular monitoring of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a hospital setting: Correlative study of patient and environmental isolates. Ann. meeting, Assoc. SE Biologists.
Noyes,V., H. G. Spratt, Jr., D. Levine, M. A. Brzezienski, and M. Epps. 2018. An in vitroAnalysis of the Relative Efficacies of Antibiotic Solutions vs. Antiseptics Used for Irrigation in Breast Augmentation Surgery. Ann. meeting, Assoc. SE Biologists, Myrtle Beach, SC (Southeastern Biology Annual Meeting).
Spratt, H. G., Jr., D. Levine, S. McDonald, S. Drake, K. Duke, C. Kluttz, and K. Noonan. 2018. Survival of Staphylococcus aureus on ultrasound transducer heads used in healthcare. Ann. meeting, Assoc. SE Biologists, Myrtle Beach, SC (Southeastern Biology Annual Meeting).
Ammon, J. C. Smith, D. Levine, H. Spratt, and D. Giles. 2018. Molecular monitoring of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a hospital setting: Correlative study of patient and environmental isolates. Ann. meeting, Assoc. SE Biologists, Myrtle Beach, SC (Southeastern Biology Annual Meeting).
Spratt, H. G., Jr., D. Levine, J. Bage, D. K. Giles, and A. G. Collier. 2018. Topical lotions utilized in outpatient rehabilitation clinics as a potential source of bacterial contamination. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice. IN-PRESS.
Levine D, Spratt H, McDonald S. Survival Time of Staphylococcus aureus on Ultrasound Transducer Heads. Proceedings of the 2018 Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association.
Levine D, Spratt H, Boden S, Collier AG, Douglas S, Norris LA, Smith E. Topical Lotions and Creams Utilized in Outpatient Rehabilitation Clinics as a Potential Source of Bacterial Contamination. Proceedings of the American Physical Therapy Association Conference and Exposition, Nashville, TN, June 8-11, 2016.
Levine D, Spratt H, Walker JR, Tobias R, Harmon H, Rock B, Cooper Z, Winkleman D. Dry Needling and the Potential for Bacterial Contamination. Poster presentation, Tennessee Physical Therapy Association Spring Meeting, 2015.
Spratt HG, Levine D, Tillman L. Physical therapy clinic therapeutic ultrasound equipment as a source for bacterial contamination. Abstracts of Annual Meeting, Association of southeastern Biologists, Athens, GA (Southeastern Biology 59:300), 2012.
