Health & Human Services reports increased inspections, permits; county hears antimicrobial stewardship overview

Carol Harrison of Cowlitz County Health & Human Services presented the department’s 2025 activity totals and year-over-year comparisons, noting several upward trends and operational details.

Harrison said environmental health conducted about 984 restaurant inspections in 2025, an increase from 2024 that the department attributed to staffing recovery. The department also inspected roughly 300 temporary food vendors, performed 33 public pool and spa inspections (up from 13), completed 24 campground inspections, issued 356 septic permits (new systems and replacements), and performed three public water system inspections. Harrison reported 1,365 death records processed and said birth-certificate issuance rose by nearly 3,000 as residents sought documents for Real ID purposes.

Harrison described how the environmental health unit triages solid-waste complaints (64 new complaints in 2025, up from 42 in 2024), and explained that complaint responses focus on health risks (rodents, contamination) rather than aesthetics alone. She also noted that some inspection and permitting workloads are supported by a state Department of Ecology grant.

Separately, an informational presentation on antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) outlined AMS goals: preserving antimicrobial effectiveness through optimized prescribing, educating prescribers and the public, and monitoring priority pathogens. The presenter described AMS history, global guidance (CDC and WHO milestones), and encouraged patients to follow prescribed courses and ask providers about the purpose and proper use of antibiotics.

The board did not take regulatory action on either the HHS report or the AMS presentation; both items were informational. Commissioners thanked the presenters for year-to-year comparisons and moved on to other agenda business.