Clean Atlantic - January 2008
(click here for full magazine in Adobe pdf format).

ON THE COVER:  Hypervirulent Strains of Clostridium Difficile
By DR. Barry Cookson, Centre for Infections, Health Protection Agency, UK

The anaerobic, gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium Clostridium difficile was first isolated in 1935. The designated name related to how difficult the original investigators found it to culture. It has been isolated widely in the soil and the gut of many animals and, although a known cause of colitis in animals such as cats, dogs, birds, rodents and neonatal pigs, it was not until 1978 that it was found to also cause human disease (pseudomembranous colitis).   Read more...

The Atlantic Chapter of the Canadian Sanitation Supply Association (CSSA) experienced an eventful year in 2007.
In addition to a variety of pandemic preparedness seminars being held in Moncton, NB, and Halifax, NS,  the association held its bi-annual Clean Atlantic trade show at the World Trade and Convention Centre in Halifax. The event provided attendees with an opportunity to view the latest innovations and trends in the cleaning industry. The seminar on Green cleaning, which was held in conjunction with the show, was very well attended. The next regional CSSA-sponsored exhibition is scheduled for Moncton, NB, in 2009.  Read more...

Green Economics
Although this column will cover several cleaning issues, I plan to occasionally include some articles on Green cleaning, which is growing in importance and becoming a common practice throughout Canada.

The records show that educational and government facilities were pioneers in embracing the Green cleaning movement. This started a few years ago and quickly spread to commercial office buildings as well as healthcare, hospitality and other industries. However, the industrial industry is one segment that has been somewhat slow to embrace Green cleaning.   Read more...

Performance vs. Task and Frequency Cleaning Contracts
Which type of contract is right for your cleaning contract? The answer is that both are right and combinations of both are necessary for a truly effective cleaning specification.

The cleaning specification should always start out with the goal of the cleaning program – the performance portion of the contract. This goal may be a simple statement such as ‘keep the building clean at all times’ or be much more detailed in that it may define the desired goal of each task or appearance level for every surface in the building.  Read more...

New Restroom Fixtures Have Many Benefits
Driven by growing concerns about germs and bacteria, increasingly facilities cleaned by building service contractors (BSCs) have installed automatic, no-touch, low-flow or no-flow fixtures, including faucets, toilets, urinals, and soap and paper towel dispensers. In addition to health and sanitary issues, these devices are also being installed because facility managers find they help reduce water usage and related costs significantly.

Today, it is a common perception that germs are pervasive in public restrooms, schools, office buildings, medical centres and other types of facilities. However, some public health experts question whether germs and bacteria are really more invasive today than in years past. These experts believe what has instead changed over the years is that people are much more aware of how germs and disease can spread, and it is because of this that they do not want to “touch” anything in a restroom. And, most public health officials agree that the installation of no-touch systems is a way to help protect the public from diseases.  Read more...

Operation Clean Sweep
A Success In Atlantic Canada
Operation CleanSweep recently held at “The Lodge That Gives” in Halifax, NS, was deemed a success. The facility, which is operated by the Canadian Cancer Society, provides a place for out-of-town individuals to resident when they are in Halifax for cancer treatment.

According to Bruce Rathbun, Atlantic Chapter chairman of the Canadian Sanitation Supply Association (CSSA), 17 members participated in the event – which is a record attendance for Operation CleanSweep since it was revived in the region.   Read more...

Hand Hygiene: A Frequently Missed Lifesaving Opportunity During Patient Care
Excerpts of an article by Dr. Andrej Trampuz and Dr. Andreas F. Widmer
Nosocomial infections affect nearly 10 per cent of hospitalized patients and represent a major problem in health care facilities, resulting in prolonged hospital stays, substantial morbidity and mortality and excessive costs. In the United States, health care associated infections contribute to the deaths of nearly 90,000 hospital patients each year and increase annual medical expenses by approximately $4.5 billion.  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...

 
“The Six Sins of Greenwashing”
New Study Finds Misleading Green Claims In 99 Per Cent of Products Surveyed
Buyers beware – that so-called “Green” product is likely stretching the eco-truth according to the Six Sins of Greenwashing, a study released by TerraChoice Environmental Marketing.

The Six Sins of Greenwashing found that of 1018 common consumer products ranging from toothpaste to caulking to shampoo to printers, randomly surveyed for the study, 99 per cent were guilty of “greenwashing.”   Read more...

Can Clean 2008
Environmentally Preferred Productivity
“Green” is everywhere – green cars, green shopping bags, green light bulbs, green paint, green flooring, green fertilizers and even green televisions. The list is endless, but only at Can Clean 2008 will attendees find hundreds of green cleaning products that are important – at work and at home.
More than 135 manufacturers and distributors of sanitary maintenance products from across Canada and the United States will be exhibiting products at the largest trade show in Canada dedicated to the cleaning professional. The event will highlight how Environmentally Preferred Productivity works, and how it can meet the demands of customers while maintaining costs with products that are effective and “Green.”
In addition to the products on display, on-site demonstrations and a comprehensive seminar program will teach delegates more about green cleaning and how they can be more productive in today’s green environment.   Read more...