The BIOFIRE System and Your Immune System

The BIOFIRE System offers syndromic testing for infectious illnesses, allowing healthcare professionals to select the right test first time. Patients benefit from quicker diagnosis and a more specific treatment. Clinicians benefit from improved stewardship of antibiotics. Labs save money while increasing efficiency.

The BioFire Pneumonia Plus Panel (PN panel) tests native sputum (including mini-BAL) as well as endotracheal sludge and bronchoalveolar Slurries (including mini BAL) for 33 clinically significant pathogens and resistance genes to antimicrobials within an hour.

Respiratory

The burning of biomass (wood plants, trees and other organic material) produces gaseous pollutants as well as fine particles which negatively impact the respiratory system. Climate change may exacerbate the negative effects of forest fires to the health of humans.

In the United States wildfire smoke is linked to hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases like asthma, COPD, and lung cancer. In addition, this type of air pollution can be an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and is a significant cause of illness for the most vulnerable population which includes those with lower socioeconomic status (SES).

Wildfires have led to unhealthy levels of air pollution in many communities during the COVID-19 epidemic. The response of public health has been limited to a communication campaign on managing symptoms. This knowledge gap is concerning considering the evidence of potential health hazards from the continued exposure to smoke and other sources of poor air quality.

Researchers are currently evaluating the best methods to safeguard the public's health in future events of this type. NIH is funding research into this important public health issue through the BLUE CORAL study and its successor FIRE CORAL.

First time an prospective study will evaluate long-term outcomes of exposure to smoke from wildfires or other sources. FIRE CORAL is looking for adult participants who are hospitalized for the COVID-19 index episode who have a fluency in English or Spanish and are not pregnant. The protocol for Fire Coral includes a battery in-person assessments that objectively assess pulmonary function testing and lung imaging, as well as functional assessment.

Smoke and other particles can cause or worsen chronic respiratory conditions like emphysema COPD and pneumonia. There are a variety of steps that can be taken to avoid or minimize the negative health effects from short-term exposures to smoke, which includes avoiding outdoor activities when feasible and wearing the EPA's "N95" mask, which is designed to catch fine particles.

Smoking cigarettes can cause irritation of the throat and eyes, and lead to the nose to run. To help reduce symptoms, drink lots of water and take medication to reduce inflammation, like corticosteroids.

Bloodstream

Your bloodstream is at the forefront of fighting off germs that enter your body. Dendritic cells, special cells, act as the call center for your fire department. They gather antigens from germs and release proteins to signal other white cells to fight them. Circulating total white blood cell counts, differentials and band cells were boosted after firefighters' firefighting shifts, as compared to levels following strenuous physical exercise without firefighting.

Skin

Dermatologists were concerned that smoke and ash that resulted from the California wildfires could cause an adverse effect on the skin of those exposed to them. Maria Wei, a graduate student at University of California, Irvine is studying how severe bio ethanol fuel fire pollution affects skin. Her research was published on April 22 2012 in Scientific Reports.

Wei's study shows that the temperature changes of the skin dependent on the amount of time that the body is exposed. It can take up to two hours for the skin of an individual to reach its "flash point"--the place where it begins to burn and then turns ashy. It's crucial not to be close to a fire or campfire, and you should always wear protective clothing when outdoors during a hot or humid day.

Forest fires will continue to occur, despite the measures taken to stop Bioethanol fuel Fires from causing pollution. Wei is predicting that the number of people suffering from the consequences of wildfires will increase as climate change causes more forests to burn. This means that more people will need to wear hats and long sleeves as well as thick moisturizers.

It's also worth knowing that atopic dermatitis (itchy skin) that a lot of people suffer from is often exacerbated by the air pollution from wildfires. The particles in smoke can clog pores, making atopic skin worse.

Another issue is that atopic dermatitis can make people more sensitive to UV light, which may be aggravated by smoke from wildfires. This makes people more likely to go to tanning salons, and it may cause the skin to get darker with less protection than they should.

While a cold and fire facial may reduce the effects of atopic skin dermatitis, it's not recommended for those with an open wound or a rash on their face. This treatment is not recommended for those who have active acne, or if you're pregnant or nursing. The IS Clinical Fire & Ice Facial is offered at Novuskin Las Vegas' premier membership MedSpa is a results-driven, intensive facial that bridges the mild facelift and the peel, with no downtime. It's designed to resurface the skin, improve the appearance of rosacea, reduce the appearance of acne scars, reduce wrinkles, and promote the renewal of cells. This is a great treatment to give your skin a glowing glow.

Infections

The human body is made up of a complex set of organs and tissue which work together to defend us from infection. Infections are caused by microscopic microorganisms like parasites, viruses, bacteria and fungus that infiltrate healthy cells and cause them to reproduce out of control. If this happens, your immune system may react by displaying symptoms of illness. These symptoms could range from a stuffy or runny nose to stomach upset however, they may also include a fever high or swollen glands. You may also experience an itchy rash. The symptoms you experience can be affected by the type of infection, its location and even your temperature.

Infections can be spread through a variety of methods, but the most common are from person to person via droplets that remain in the air after coughing or sneezing. Bacterial diseases like strep throat, tuberculosis, meningococcal disease, and Legionnaires' disease are spread this way, along with some viral infections, such as the common cold and influenza. Certain bacteria-related infections, like skin infections and sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) like gonorrhea and chlamydia, are spread by direct contact with infected tissues or mucous membranes or by indirect contact with contaminated surfaces. Some bacterial infections are spread by insects like ticks, fleas, or mosquitoes.

Viruses and some parasites are small enough to get into your bloodstream and infect your cells which can cause serious illness such as the common cold and AIDS. Fungi are responsible for a myriad of skin conditions, like ringworm and athlete's foot. Some affect the lungs or the nervous system, such as the rabies virus.

The BioFire PN Panel employs our innovative FilmArray technology to test for an extensive list of pathogens that are involved in upper respiratory infections in sputum or samples of bronchoalveolar fluid. The kit comes with the reagent pouch which stores all the chemistry needed to perform reverse transcription PCR, multiplex nested testing and detection with a single device. It's a simple solution to aid clinicians in identifying and treat patients with a variety of respiratory symptoms. This test has been given an Emergency Use Authorization. It is available in bioMerieux CLIA medium and high-complex laboratories.