Method For Preventing Infectious Disease Outbreaks in Nursing Homes and Hospitals Due to Global Warming and Resistances to Medication

Abstract

This invention addresses the problem of Global Warming, expressed as the environmental condition of unintended and imperceptible levels of Vapor Pressure Deficit, (VPD) in Nursing Homes and Hospitals. The invention teaches an art form which addresses Global Warming as expressed by Vapor Pressure deficit and resistance to medication. The invention identifies the ideal conditions for fungal and bacteria growth and in particular a new highly resistant fatal form of Candida Fungus, referred to as Candida Auris (C. Auris). Existing HVAC technology does not address this problem, since it is novel in that it identifies a unique interaction between Global Warming with the problem of resistances to medication. The invention is also novel and unobvious in that it teaches an art form indicating that certain levels of imperceptible VPD require continued HVAC, A/C dehumidification and temperature reduction even throughout tepid temperatures when such equipment may be turned off. As well as teaches an art form to alert medical staff and administration as to when these conditions are occurring and help plan treatments during periods of favorable ambient indoor and outdoor environmental conditions.

Claims

1. A method of measuring the effects of Global Warming in Nursing Homes and Hospitals, comprising the steps of: measuring or receiving a digital reading of temperature and relative humidity and determining Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD), determining a level of temperature and relative humidity inorder to establish VPD fluctuation across a 24-hour period for a least one day. creating a report across a gradient of temperature and relative humidity in order to arrive at VPD in an indoor facility following as close as possible to the actual temperature and relative humidity, outputting, if indicated, an alert reflecting that the facility has entered a dangerous level of VPD.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said level of VPD, indicates that VPD is within a pre-defined threshold, and outputting that a dangerous environmental event is occurring in an indoor or outdoor facility by notification via email, text or telephonically.

3. The method of claim 1, where said step of comparing, the VPD found in the facility to known levels which are conducive to flowering and the propagation of microbes such as Candida Auris.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein an alert is prepared when it is determined that a facility has arrived at predetermined levels of VPD and Medical Staff and Administrators must be contacted by email, text or telephonically.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein facilities must be directed to maintain HVAC air conditioning for cooling and dehumidification to eliminate levels of VPD.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein an input is received indicating whether, VPD levels are normal and digital determination of an alert must be sent indicating that VPD is abnormal; and during said step of comparing, said level is used to determine if said VPD levels represents an abnormal and dangerous level of VPD in nursing homes and hospitals.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a determination is made by comparing levels of VPD to a plurality of different levels whether, such levels differ from levels of VPD that representative a healthy environment in a Nursing Home or Hospital.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said levels of VPD is related to specific forms of Global Warming due to excessive greenhouse gases in the environment and whether such excessive greenhouse gases elicit the propagation of dangerous and newly discovered funguses such as C. Auris.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said known fungal outbreaks of C. Auris is related to fluctuations of relative humidity and temperature and a confluence of such, to arrive at a specific change in VPD and based on the occurrence of serious illness in patients in Nursing Homes and Hospitals.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said input received determines whether the facility is being impacted by Global Warming as reflected by VPD and that ambient conditions in the facility must be altered to prevent an outbreak of serious disease such as C. Auris.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said suggested, adverse undetectable environmental event is occurring as reflected by VPD, requires the notification via text message, email or telephone call, and is further suggested by the occurrence of any current fungal outbreaks based on receiving information of the presence of such disease in the facility such as a Nursing Home or Hospital.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein medical staff and administrators can log into an establish server to view said VPD readings to assess the safety of treating C. Auris and other infectious agents to determine a safe ambient environment and whether a facility is being impacted by Global Warming.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

[0018] The purpose of this invention is to provide alerts to medical personnel to notify them to the occurrence of dangerous and undetectable interaction between humidity levels and temperature, i.e., Vapor Pressure Deficient. Alerts will notify medical personnel with regards to dangerous environmental conditions in Nursing Homes and Hospitals. The alerts are particularly important during tepid weather conditions when NC units are turned off. The alerts will take the form of text messages, emails, and phone calls. Facility personnel including medical and administration will also have the ability to login to view readings. (FIG. 5).

[0019] The invention also teaches an art form, where physicians consider the indoor ambient humidity and temperature, and the interaction of such conditions, prior to treatment with medication associated with resistances.

Description of the Problems that this Invention Solves

[0020] This invention addresses the problem of undetected levels of humidity (VPD) combining with the phenomena of resistances to medication, which creates the ideal conditions for funguses and other microbes to proliferate. Existing technology does not address these problems since this is a novel and unobvious approach, unknown to the medical science and introduces a unique interaction between Global Warming with the problem of resistance to medication. By analyzing this unique interaction with Global Warming, this approach brings the concept of VPD into Nursing Homes and the Hospital environment, as a new art form.

[0021] It is also novel in that it teaches an art form to alert medical personnel as to insidious and potentially dangerous conditions which may be occurring. This can help plan treatments on days of more favorable ambient in-door and possibly outdoor weather conditions, avoiding periods where the facility is experiencing dangerous levels of VPD.

Description of how the Invention is an Improvement Over Existing Technology

[0022] Currently existing technology does not comprehend the interaction between Global Warming expressed through VPD and Resistances to Medication, leading to fatal outbreaks of C. Auris and other microbes. Our technology introduces a process to determine when a facilities A/C must be turned on or off, saving the facility on the cost of cooling. As we have shown VPD is largely undetectable using existing methods, because if this, knowing when to treat or not to treat, is difficult to determine. Our research indicates that the large number of deaths in nursing homes and hospitals, due to C. Auris during the more tepid temperatures of the fall, together with the presence of VPD, could potentially be reduced by measuring and reporting VPD.

Description of the Benefits of this Invention to its Users

[0023] The benefits of this invention are that it could reduce the occurrence of outbreaks of fatal fungal Candidiasis Auris and potentially other microbes. It could also help doctors select the best ambient conditions for which to treat resistant conditions and avoid harming patients and causing outbreaks. The invention will help the medical staff and administration decide when it is safe to turn down the expensive A/C units during cooler temperatures, and when A/C must be kept on for patient safety in Nursing Homes and Hospitals.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The following formula expresses VPD:

VPD=SVP×(1−RH/100)

Where SVP=610.78×e{circumflex over ( )}(T/(T+238.3)×17.2694)) T is in degrees Celsius. The result, SVP, is in pascals (divide by 1000 to get kPa); e is a mathematical constant called Euler's Number, approximately equal to 2.71828. Where RH is relative humidity and SVP is saturated vapor pressure.

[0025] SVP is critical to this art form. It is an important factor for determining VPD and can be illustrated in FIG. #6. We can see that SVP is dependent on ambient temperature. SVP increases as the temperature rises, since warmer air (lower pressure) can absorb a greater amount of moisture.

[0026] VPD is the saturated Vapor Pressure minus the actual Vapor Pressure (SVP−VP (actual), and VP actual=(RWSVP/100. We may apply the formula VPD=(1−RH/100))*SVP). Alternatively: VPD=(1−(RH/100))*SVP).

[0027] FIG. 7 shows a high-level block diagram of devices used in embodiments of the disclosed technology. Device 600 comprises a processor 650 that controls the overall operation of the computer by executing the device's program instructions which define such operation. The device's program instructions may be stored in a storage device 620 (e.g., magnetic disk, database) and loaded into memory 630 when execution of the console's program instructions is desired. Thus, the device's operation will be defined by the device's program instructions stored in memory 630 and/or storage 620, and the console will be controlled by processor 650 executing the console's program instructions. A device 600 also includes one, or a plurality of, input network interfaces for communicating with other devices via a network (e.g., the internet).

[0028] The device 600 further includes an electrical input interface. A device 600 also includes one or more output network interfaces 610 for communicating with other devices. Device 600 also includes input/output 640 representing devices, which allow for user interaction with a computer (e.g., display, keyboard, mouse, speakers, buttons, etc.). One skilled in the art will recognize that an implementation of an actual device will contain other components as wed, and that FIG. 7 is a high-level representation of some of the components of such a device, for illustrative purposes. It should also be understood by one skilled in the art that the method, data, and devices depicted in FIGS. 1 and 6 may be implemented on a device such as is shown in FIG. 7.

[0029] Further, it should be understood that all subject matter disclosed herein is directed at, and should be read only on, statutory, non-abstract subject matter. All terminology should be read to include only the portions of the definitions which may be claimed. By way of example, “computer readable storage medium” is understood to be defined as only non-transitory storage media.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0030] FIG. #1 is a flow chart of a method of carrying out embodiments of the disclosed technology.

[0031] FIG. #2 is a chart of the gradient of Fahrenheit temperature and Relative Humidity, illustrated with VPD. Dangerous levels of VPD are indicated as between 1.2-1.5 and highlighted when detected in Nursing Homes and Hospitals.

[0032] FIG. #3 is an example of how VPD changes across different levels temperature and a consistent relative humidity, in order to better explain the importance of the invention.

[0033] FIG. #4 is a comparison of VPD for October and September of 2019 in Northern New Jersey.

[0034] FIG. #5 is a detailed description of the inventive steps taken and art form to create the invention, including evaluating ambient conditions, alerting with texting, emailing, and calling interested parties in Nursing Homes and Hospitals.

[0035] FIG. #6 is an illustration of the relationship between SVP and VPD and the point where NC units may be turned off causing VPD at a level of 1.2-1.5.

[0036] FIG. #7 is a high-level block diagram of devices used in embodiments of the disclosed technology.

[0037] FIG. #8 is a print-out of the date, ti e, temperature, humidity and VPD in an actual Nursing Home.