Clean Atlantic - May 2008
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ON THE COVER:   Golden Rule:  Cleaning Must Precede Sterilization
By Nicole Kenny, Virox Technologies Inc.
Much of the literature on disinfectants and sterilants opens with a definition of terms. Which indicates that the subject is not a simple one, although it can be understood with a little effort. William A. Rutala, PhD, MPH, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a world-renowned expert on the subject, describes sterilization as “the complete elimination or destruction of all forms of microbial life, required for instruments or devices that have contact with sterile tissue. Disinfection describes a process that eliminates many or all pathogenic microorganisms on inanimate objects with the exception of bacterial spores.” Therefore, chemicals that eliminate all microbial life, including spores, are referred to as sterilants, whereas disinfectants eliminate all or most pathogenic organisms but not spores.   Read more...

The Foundation of Hygiene
By S. Notermans, E. Hoornstra  (The Netherlands), S.C. Powel (U.K.)
In Greek mythology, Asclepius, son of Apollo and referred to as the god of medicine or healing, was a healer who became a Green demigod, and was a famous physician. Actually he was the most important among the Green gods and heroes who were associated with health and curing disease. Shrines and temples of healing, known as Asclepieia, were erected throughout Greece where the sick came to worship and sought cures for their ills. Among the children of Aclepius the best known are his daughters Hygeia and Panacea. Hygeia became the goddess of healing and she focuses on the healing power of cleanliness. She introduced and promoted the idea of washing patients with soap and water. She had lots of hospital shrines and played an important role in the cult of Asclepius as a giver of health. At the beginning she was the goddess of corporal well-being. Later she was also connected to mental health; the aphorism ‘mens sana in corpore sano’ applies to this, ‘a healthy mind in a healthy body.’ Her sister was faced, like her father, for healing by medicines.   Read more...

Coming Clean About Greenwashing
By Mike Sawchuk
In November 2007, Canada’s own EcoLogo/TerraChoice Environmental Marketing organization shook the consumer world when it issued its report, The Six Sins of Greenwashing™, A Study of Environmental Claims in North American Consumer Markets. The study was based on a six product category survey at major big-box stores.

In their investigation, 1018 consumer products were identified making a total of 1753 environmental claims. But of the 1018 products examined, all but one made false or misleading claims “that risk misleading interest [consumer] audiences,” said the report.   Read more...

Spring Has Sprung In Atlantic Canada
By Bruce Rathbun, CSSA Atlantic Canada Chapter Chairman
Last year was an eventful year with several seminars and the Clean Atlantic 2007 trade show topping the event list. Photographs from the very successful show can be seen on page 11 of this issue of Clean Atlantic. The next Clean Atlantic trade event is scheduled for 2009 in Moncton, NB.   Read more...

Bacteria Can Hide Out In Cells For Weeks
By Nicole Kenny, Virox Technologies Inc.
Another interesting study was released recently that revealed a fascinating survival strategy used by Staphylococcus aureus. The paper, “A global view of Staphylococcus aureus whole genome expression upon internalization in human epithelial cells,” was published earlier this year in BMC Genomics and profiled in ScienceDaily. It explained that Staph. Bacteria may evade the immune system’s defences and dodge antibiotics by climbing into our cells and then lying low to avoid detection. The research shows how S. aureus makes itself at home in human lung cells for up to two weeks.   Read more...

Pierre Dumas
This past January Atlas Graham and the sanitation industry said good-bye to a great friend and colleague – Mr. Pierre Dumas.   Read more...

 Preparing for the Future
As a business owner or manager, are you ready for the changes that are taking place with your clients or customers to meet their needs? Many large companies are consolidating, going public and acquiring mid-size firms, and many small firms are seeing opportunities in the gaps that are being created.   Read more...

Do You Know Where Germs Live?
Most people, even cleaning industry professionals, are not aware of where more germs live. This can be problematic because cleaning for health is no longer a marketing slogan; instead, it has become the function and goal of our entire industry.

To test your knowledge about germs and their living spaces, Kaivac – developers of the N-Touch Cleaning™ system and other tools and products to foster a cleaner, healthier indoor environment – invites you to take the Germ Living Space Quiz.   Read more...

Dustbane Products Ltd.100 Years of Success
For 100 years, Dustbane Products Limited has proven itself to be a leader in the sanitation supply industry by dedicating itself to simplifying the cleaning process. As a market-driven Canadian manufacturer, the company’s goal is to provide superior customized maintenance programs complemented by the appropriate products, training and services.   Read more...

Compliance with Antiseptic Hand Rub Use in Intensive Care Units: The Hawthorne Effect
In the September 2006 issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology (27:931-934), medical personnel in five German hospitals were monitored in two periods regarding compliance with antiseptic hand rub (AHR) use when there were indications for AHR use. In the first period, the personnel had no knowledge of being observed. The second observation period was announced to the staff of the intensive care units in advance and information about what the observer would be monitoring was provided. Potential confounders of compliance with AHR use included occupational groups (nurses, physicians and other healthcare workers), intensive care units, and indications for AHR use before or after any procedure.   Read more...