Meet Infection Control Today's Editorial Board Member: Henry Spratt, Jr, PhD

Introducing the Infection Control Today's (ICT's) Editorial Board members—a diverse group of professionals dedicated to advancing infection prevention and control practices. This series highlights each member's unique expertise and contributions to the field.

From groundbreaking research to innovative strategies, these experts are at the forefront of enhancing health care safety. Join us as we learn their insights, experiences, and visions for the future, providing valuable knowledge and inspiration to elevate infection control protocols.

In this installment, we hear from Henry Spratt, Jr, PhD. Spratt is the senior microbiologist and professor at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga and has dedicated over 3 decades to the study of microbiology, particularly in environmental settings.

Henry Spratt, Editorial Advisory Board member

Initially focusing on wetland microbiology and bioremediation, Spratt’s research contributed significantly to understanding how microbes in wetlands can be harnessed to clean up toxic environments, such as those affected by acid mine drainage. However, his career took a pivotal turn about 20 years ago when he began collaborating with David Levine, PhD, DPT, MPH, FAPTA, a physical therapist and another member of ICT's Editorial Advisory Board, leading Spratt into the realm of health care-related microbiology.

This collaboration began with a study of the microbial environment in physical therapy clinics, leading to their first published paper a decade ago. The success of this research prompted their university to establish the Clinical Infectious Disease Control Research Group in 2015. This interdisciplinary group has since been instrumental in monitoring environmental contamination in various health care settings, including inpatient and outpatient clinics, veterinary clinics, and long-term care facilities.

In this video, Spratt highlights a critical issue in many health care facilities: the lack of consistent and effective infection prevention practices, particularly in environments where environmental services are outsourced to contractors. His research has revealed concerning levels of contamination in various health care settings, including the presence of multidrug-resistant organisms like Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium difficile. Despite these findings, he notes that the response from health care administrators is often inadequate, largely due to constraints imposed by low-bid contracts and high staff turnover among cleaning personnel.

A significant part of Spratt’s work now focuses on advocating for better infection control practices and educating health care professionals about the importance of environmental monitoring. His research group has developed rapid and cost-effective methods for detecting live bacterial contaminants on surfaces, which could revolutionize how health care facilities monitor and manage their environments.

Spratt also discusses the potential of new detection technologies, such as biosensors equipped with aptamers—small pieces of single-stranded DNA that bind to specific bacterial proteins. These sensors could provide instantaneous detection of harmful bacteria in clinical settings, greatly enhancing infection prevention efforts. With continued research and development, these tools could become affordable and widely accessible, even in resource-limited settings.

Spratt’s journey from environmental microbiology to health care-related research underscores the critical need for robust infection prevention practices in health care settings. His work not only highlights the gaps in current practices but also offers innovative solutions that could significantly improve patient safety and outcomes.