VOL. VIII NO. 4

BU SP YER ECI A ISS S’ GU L UE IDE

oct-dec 2012

Attention Readers !

Are you looking for Products, Equipment or Services for your business or healthcare facility? If so, please check out these leading companies advertised in this issue:

Consulting Firms Badrick Consulting – pg 4

Hazardous Waste Disposal & Infection Compliance Services Assured Waste Solutions – pg 20 Clean Harbors – pg 6

Infectious & Non-Infectious Waste Containers & Linen Carts Bomac Carts – pg 15 Daniels International – pg 2 Rehrig Healthcare Systems – pg 5 TQ Industries – pg 16

Infectious Waste Sterilizing Systems Bondtech Corporation – pg 4 The Mark-Costello Co – pg 14 Ozonator Industries – pg 19 STI Biosafe – pg 16

Liquid Disposal Systems Bemis Health Care – pg 15

Shredders Vecoplan LLC – pg 8 WEIMA America – pg 6

California County Holds Drug Manufacturers Responsible for Take-Back Program

A

By P.J. Heller

s local, state and federal authorities grapple with the issue of collecting and disposing of unused, unwanted or expired drugs, a northern California county has adopted a first-in-the-nation ordinance to hold pharmaceutical manufacturers responsible for the so-called “take-back” program. The precedent-setting measure “asks no less than what customers have already grown to expect from printer cartridges, paint or battery industry stewardship programs,” noted Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley. It was not known if the pharmaceutical industry would challenge the measure in court. A Washington, D.C.-based trade group representing the industry initially opposed the measure, saying it was unneeded, would drive up the cost of medicines and would set a “dangerous precedent for a community that is currently served by multiple safe medicine collection efforts. “The ordinance is confusing, duplicative and unnecessarily burdensome on both patients and the environment when clear, safe home disposal methods are already available,” the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) said in a prepared statement. While take-back programs are nothing new —

the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s latest national prescription drug take-back day in September, for example, collected 244 tons of drugs from more than 5,200 locations — ongoing local efforts often prove too costly for cash-strapped cities and counties. Alameda County, located in the East Bay region in the San Francisco Bay Area, has 28 dropoff locations that cost the county some $330,000 annually, according to officials. “The responsibility for the bill largely falls on local folks, local police, local public health agencies,” notes Margaret Shield of the local hazardous waste management program in King County, Wash. “We shouldn’t be asking police to dip into their restricted budget to pay for the take-back of products sold by a multibillion dollar industry. We shouldn’t be asking public health departments to do that either; they’ve got plenty of public health responsibilities to do. This is a critical issue both for public health and public safety. The best way to fund this would be to work this into the cost of the product. “We know how to set up these programs and get them working,” Shield adds. “What we don’t have is enough dedicated funding to have enough Continued on page 3

Medismart The future of medical waste management is here Reduces risk of pathogen transfer Dramatically improves aesthetics Eliminates plastic bags Improves waste segregation Reduces risk of tampering

To learn more about how Medismart can enhance the safety and efficiency of your medical waste system, visit: danielsinternational.com/products-services/medismart

Toll-free: 888-851-9952

2

Website:

www.danielsinternational.com

Email:

sales@danielsinternational.com

Medical Waste Management  OCT-dec 2012

medical waste management

PUBLICATION STAFF

Publisher / Editor Rick Downing Contributing Editors / Writers P.J. Heller Sandy Woodthorpe Production & Layout Barb Fontanelle Christine Pavelka Advertising Sales Rick Downing Subscription / Circulation Donna Downing Editorial, Circulation & Advertising Office 6075 Hopkins Road Mentor, OH 44060 Ph: 440-257-6453 Fax: 440-257-6459 Email: downassoc2@oh.rr.com For subscription information, please call 440-257-6453. M e d i c a l Wa s t e M a n a ge m e n t (ISSN #1557‑6388) is published quarterly by Downing & Associates. Reproductions or transmission of Medical Waste Management, in whole or in part, without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Annual subscription rate U.S. is $19.95. Outside of the U.S. add $10.00 ($29.95). Contact our main office, or mail-in the subscription form with payment. ©

Copyright 2012 by Downing & Associates

Printed on 10% Post-Consumer Recycled Paper

California County Holds Drug Manufacturers Responsible for Take-Back Program

Continued from page 1

which must include an outreach and promotion collection sites and to have the funds to really campaign. The plan will then be subject to a public promote those collection sites.” hearing within 90 days by the county. Efforts over the past several years to pass Alameda County’s safe medication disposal legislation in the Washington State Legislature to ordinance excludes, at least for now, controlled have pharmaceutical companies develop and pay substances while it awaits new DEA guidelines. for take-back programs have been unsuccessful. Those guidelines are The measures have been expected to address the issue backed by a broad coalition “It’s not something of requiring a police officer of organizations, including they’ve ever been to be present whenever law enforcement, public a controlled substance is health, cities and counties, asked to pay for in returned. substance abuse programs the United States Congress in 2010 and environmental and water passed, and President quality groups. However, before and they Obama signed, the Secure the pharmaceutical industry don’t want to be and Responsible Drug has managed to block those Disposal Act to develop measures, even though responsible for it. guidelines to allow people similar plans are in effect They do it in other other than law enforcement in Canadian provinces and personnel to collect the in other countries such as countries, but here Australia, Spain and France, they don’t want the drugs.“DEA is currently Shield notes. responsibility.” in the process of drafting “It’s not something regulations, but until the they’ve ever been asked creation of permanent regulations, DEA will to pay for in the United States before and they continue to hold take-back days,” the government don’t want to be responsible for it. They do it says. in other countries, but here they don’t want the Shield says local officials are “tremendously responsibility,” she says. “What they’ve been able frustrated” that the DEA has not yet issued a draft to do is cast doubt on the need for the program or regulation. That prompted the King County Board cast doubt on whether it would really work.” of Health to recently adopt a resolution calling for PhRMA notes that it is an advocate for the DEA to speed up its efforts. consumer education on safe disposal of prescription “We’re all waiting,” Shield says. “We can medications and supports such things as America’s do this collection right now but it will be much Medicine Chest Challenge and SMARxT Disposal simpler, we believe, when the DEA creates a programs, the latter which provide consumers with new system.” information on how to safely dispose of medicines She is hopeful that the DEA will allow in the trash. controlled substances to be returned directly to The latest unsuccessful legislation proposed pharmacies since many of those establishments in Washington state would have capped the takealready have drop programs. back costs to drug companies at $2.5 million. The uncertainty over controlled substances “If you compare that to the more than $4 is one of the issues that Shield says is cited by billion in medical sales in our state, it works out to the pharmaceutical industry against the state two pennies for every container of medicine sold legislation. in the state,” Shield says. “Our goal is to take all “The pharmaceutical industry, frankly those leftover and unused medicines and have a rather than trying to help solve this problem for system of collecting them and disposing of them communities, has just harped on the complexities properly. Working that into the cost of business and tried to make it sound like it’s all too and having the manufacturer provide it is the most complicated,” she says. sensible way to do this.” While many push for the drug industry to take In Alameda County, Miley said the cost to on the responsibility for implementing and paying the drug industry would amount to about 1 cent for a take-back program, others suggest that the for every $3 of pharmaceuticals sold countywide. responsibility should be spread around. Those sales total some $186 million in profits “I’m not convinced this is a strictly annually, he said. pharmaceutical manufacturing problem,” says Failure to comply with the county ordinance Stevan Gressitt, a physician and founder of the could result in a penalty of up to $1,000 per day. International Institute for Pharmaceutical Safety, The pharmaceutical companies have until Jan. 1 to develop plans for the take-back program, Continued on page 4 OCT-dec 2012  Medical Waste Management

3

medical waste management

California County Holds Drug Manufacturers Responsible for Take-Back Program Continued from page 3

www.bondtech.net

Need Help Setting Up Your Hospital’s Sustainability Program? — Call Tom Badrick — Tom is a recognized speaker in the healthcare sustainability field. He has also crafted and directed one of the most successful healthcare facility sustainability programs in North America, and has guided and assisted many other organizations in creating and expanding their programs.

Tom Badrick, President 1725 NE 118th Ave. Portland, OR 97220 503-539-8704 tbadrick@aol.com www.badrickconsulting.com

4

Medical Waste Management

OCT-dec 2012

a collaboration of clinicians from several Maine universities. Rather, he says, it is everybody — including insurance companies, physicians, drug manufacturers, pharmacists, and even the public — who are contributing to the problem. Physicians, for example, may write prescriptions that are too long due to insurance company mandates; pharmacies may automatically refill prescriptions whether wanted or not, and the public may not take their medications as directed or may want a greater quantity of drugs in order to not have to go the pharmacy so often. “I’m not sure you can say it belongs on any one person’s plate,” Gressitt says. “It’s too complex an issue. There needs to be more cooperation by far than has been demonstrated to date. “Taking the drugs out of the home and throwing them in the trash or burning them doesn’t solve the problem from a prevention point of view,” he adds. “You’ll just be chasing your tail from now to kingdom come. You’ve got to find a way to cut creating the waste in the first place.” Gressitt also says he believes that multiple approaches, including mailback and drop-off programs, should be implemented for drug collection. A mail-back program that ran for more than three years in Maine ended a few months ago when funding dried up. The mail-back program was believed to be the first such program in the nation. Both Gressitt and Shield say they believe programs started at the local and state levels will eventually lead to addressing the issue on a national level. “Ultimately that would make the most sense, so no matter where you live you have a safe place to dispose of these medicines,” Shield says. “Right now I don’t see that happening at the federal level . . . The approach we’ve been taking is like many issues, it’s going to bubble up from the local government level, the state government level. Counties and states can put out model policies, prove that they work and eventually we get it at the national level.” Colorado, for example, has a Medication Take-Back Project consisting of a network of 12 secure boxes for the collection of unused and unwanted household medications. Other states and communities participate in the DEA’s annual drug take-back day. Regardless of the type of program, there is little doubt that such efforts are needed to prevent drug abuse, as well as environmental damage, according to the DEA and others. “. . . More than six million Americans abuse prescription drugs,” the DEA notes, adding that “more than 70 percent of people abusing prescription pain relievers got them through friends or relatives, a statistic that includes raiding the family medicine cabinet.” “Too many people are dying from drug overdoses,” Gressitt adds.

Correction on 3rd Quarter Issue (Article) In the third quarter edition of Medical Waste Management we published an article titled: LEED Certification … Not the Only Kid on the Block! Above the article title we mistakenly ran the Socially & Environmentally Responsible Farm logo as The Society of Environmentally Responsible Facilities logo, which clearly created some confusion. We apologize to both organizations for this error. The logo that should have appeared in this space is as follows:

What’s worth doing right, is worth repeating, over and over again. Introducing Rehrig’s FDA Cleared, 17 Gallon Reusable Sharps Container

17 Gallon Ideal for Clinical Environments Today, container reuse is the most economical and environmentally sustainable option for medical waste generators. Rehrig Healthcare’s 17 gallon Reusable Sharps Container completes the Sustainability Loop between generation and disposal. ©2012 Rehrig Pacific Company

Perfect for areas with limited space, this large sharps container features a wide opening, side-hinged main lid and a transparent sub-lid for more restricted access and monitoring fill capacity. Each lid has a two position latch, one for daily use and a full lock position for transport. An optional footpedal dolly allows hands-free operation. Designed for efficient collection, transportation and storage you can rely on Rehrig for a cost effective and sustainable solution for sharps disposal.

Scan QR code to see more images of the 17 gallon sharps container.

Phone: (800) 421-6244 Email: info@rehrigpacific.com Web: www.rehrighealthcare.com

10 Gallon size is now available

Reusable/Sustainable • FDA Cleared 510(k) • DOT Approved • Automated Handling Solutions

A REHRIG PACIFIC COMPANY

OCT-dec 2012  Medical Waste Management

5

news briefs

Mistaken Disposal of Radioactive Waste Caught

W

illiston, VT—Boston.com reports that The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a warning to a Vermont medical office after mildly radioactive waste was accidentally released to a disposal company that was not licensed to do such work. The NRC said there was no evidence that the public was endangered. PharmaLogic in Williston mistakenly disposed of radioactive material before it had decayed to allowable levels. Pharmacy manager Rick Sucese told the Burlington Free Press that the disposal company quickly noticed the problem and returned the material to PharmaLogic. He also noted that this was the first such incident in 16 years of operation at the Williston facility.

New Jersey Gets Tough on Medical Waste Dumpers

T

www.weimaamerica.com

info@weimaamerica.com

renton, NJ—A new state law will give regulators the authority to suspend for three years the licenses of health care professionals, waste handling companies or facilities caught dumping medical waste. Public health concerns over the hundreds of syringes and other medical waste that have been found washed up on New Jersey shores have convinced legislators that stronger measures than fines were needed. In 2008, Thomas McFarland Jr., a Philadelphia dentist who owns a Jersey Shore summer home, was charged with intentionally dumping waste that caused Labor Day weekend beach closings in the area. He received four years probation and was fined $100,000. Governor Chris Christie signed the measure into law on November 20th. The new law recognizes that it may take more than monetary fines to impact some doctors.

Medical Waste Mgt Mag 5.125h x 8.375w Color Advt:Layout 1 7/16/2010 4:26 PM Page 1

No Room For Error Do you know what the new pharmaceutical regulations are? Clean Harbors does and can help keep you in compliance. Since 1980, Clean Harbors has been providing comprehensive and customized waste management services to hospitals and healthcare institutions across North America. For more information call 888.304.7035 or email healthcareservices@cleanharbors.com www.cleanharbors.com/healthcare E X P E RT I N - H O U S E 6

P H A R M AC E U T I CA L

Medical Waste Management  OCT-dec 2012

&

H A Z A R D O U S

WA ST E

M A N AG E M E N T

2012

Medical Waste Management

BUYERS’ GUIDE

DIRECTORY

CATEGORY LISTINGS Air & Surface Cleaning / Containers Disinfection Systems (Pharmaceutical, Medical 1 Priority Environmental Services, Inc Abatement Technologies Advanced Vapor Technologies, LLC AmeriVap Systems, Inc Biomist, Inc Infection Prevention Technologies, LLC TRU-D LLC UVAIRx Inc Vaportek Xenex Healthcare Services LLC

Alternative Energy Systems NewWay Global Energy PEAT International Inc ZeroWaste Energy Systems

Automated Equipment & Container Cleaning Systems Aaqua Tools ARE Industries Hubscrub Company

Balers & Compactors American Baler Co Balemaster USA Harris IPS Balers Mfg J.V. Manufacturing, Inc Marathon Equipment Company Max-Pak Balers Van Dyk RecyclingSolutions

Waste & Sharps)

BD Medical Covidien Daniels Sharpsmart PCM Medical Waste Recycling Post Medical Inc. Rehrig Healthcare Scott Distribution LLC / Scott Containers Snyder Industries Inc Solutions Inc

Containers / Carts (Linens)

Bomac Carts McClure Industries, Inc PCM Medical Waste Recycling Tecni-Quip Carts

Containers / Carts

(Recycling & Document Storage) Bomac Carts Jake, Connor & Crew Inc Jedstock Inc McClure Industries, Inc Rehrig Pacific Company Schaefer Systems Intl., Inc Scott Distribution LLC / Scott Containers Solutions Inc Tecni-Quip Carts Toter Inc

Food Waste Containers & Compostable Bags BioBag Ecosafe Zero Waste Mirel Bioplastics by Telles Natur-Tec®

Hazardous Gas Collection Systems Class 1 Inc

Hazardous Waste Disposal & Infection Compliance Services Assured Waste Solutions Badrick Consulting Clean Harbors EQ – The Environmental Quality Company Golder Associates Inc Kessler Consulting Inc MedAssure PSC Environmental Services Quest Recycling Services, LLC Solid Waste Solutions Corp Stericycle Waste Management – Healthcare Solutions

Healthcare Facility Management Services ARAMARK Healthcare HHA Services Sodexo

Janitorial Supplies & Services Century Products LLC Geerpres Inc Jani-King International, Inc Rubbermaid Commercial Products LLC TL Services, Inc

Lifting Systems, Motorized Carts & Tugs Bayne Premium Lift Systems PHS West Inc Red Devil Equip. Co

Light Bulb, Electronics & Battery Recycling Battery Solutions BCS Call2Recycle Dan-Mar Components, Inc Heritage Environmental Services Metal Conversion Technologies, LLC ZRG Inc.

Liquid Waste Disposal Systems (Biohazardous) Ansell Sandel Medical Solutions Bemis Health Care Cactus LLC Dornoch Medical Systems, Inc Liquitech, Inc Environmental Solutions Stryker

OCT-dec 2012  Medical Waste Management

7

2012 Medical Waste Treatment Systems (Autoclaves, etc)

AMB - Ecosteryl The Bell Process BioMedical Technology Solutions Bondtech Corporation ECODAS Honua Technologies The Mark Costello Company MedClean Technologies, Inc OnSite Sterilization, LLC OZONATOR Industries Red Bag Solutions ReGen LLC San-I-Pak Inc SteriMed Medical Waste Solutions Inc STI Biosafe

BUYERS ’ GUIDE

CATEGORY LISTINGS Sanitizing Products, Hand Cleaners & Dispensing Systems BioMed Protect, LLC Clorox Professional Products CS Medical, LLC Deardorff Fitzsimmons Corp Dial Corp, A Henkel Company Ecolab Inc Georgia-Pacific Professional Germ Pro Products Kimberly-Clark Professional Micro-Scientific® Palmero Health Care Parker Laboratories Proctor & Gamble Professional Disposables Intl (PDI) Resurgent Health and Medical Safety-Med Products Spartan Chemical Co., Inc

Multi-Tasking!

Shredding Equipment (Plant-Based & Office Shredders)

Allegheny Shredders Cumberland Engineering Corp Republic Machine Security Engineered Machinery Co Shred-Tech UNTHA America Vecoplan, LLC WEIMA America, Inc. Whitaker Brothers

Trade Associations American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE)

Vecoplan has years of med-waste experience developing systems used in hospitals world wide for red bag processing Use as the first or last step in your med-waste treatment system Shreds sharps and other tough materials Shreds to an unrecognizable consistency Turnkey medical waste sterilization systems

...AND A SECURE DESTRUCTION SHREDDER... • • • •

The same Vecoplan med-waste shredders have also been used for years for confidential data destruction. Gain control of HIPAA compliance and costs by “in house” destruction of records, disks, drives and other media Vecoplan shredders are AAA NAID compliant Vecoplan shredders are currently being used in hundreds of secure destruction operations

...ALL IN ONE!

Phone: (336) 861-6070 • Fax: (336) 861-4329

vecoplanllc.com www.vecoplanllc.com 8

Medical Waste Management  OCT-dec 2012

Waste Tracking & Routing Software

(Medical Waste Collection & Transport) Clear Computing eRouteIt, LLC Imec Technologies Inc PC Scale Inc™ RouteOptix Management Systems Inc

X-Ray Film Recovery AG Medical Systems Inc Arch Enterprises, Inc Commodity Resource & Environmental Inc

Vecoplan’s Universal Shredders Pull Double Duty!

IT’S A MEDICAL WASTE SHREDDER... • • • • •

Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE) Copper Development Association Inc Practice Greenhealth

Sporicidin by Contec, Inc UltraClenz Xpedx

Large Hopper Hydraulic Ram Auto-Feeds Material to the Cutting Rotor

Low Speed, High Torque Single Cutting Rotor Consistently Sized, Unrecognizeable Particles

Mind Reader Logic Controls Adjust Material Feed, Ram Direction and Feed Speeds

2012 A

1 Priority Environmental Services, Inc. Fort Worth, TX (817) 595-0790 www.go1priority.com

BUYERS ’ GUIDE

COMPANY INDEX American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) Chicago, IL (312) 422-3800 www.ashe.org AmeriVap Systems, Inc Dawsonville, GA (800) 763-7687 www.amerivap.com Ansell Sandel Medical Solutions Chatsworth, CA (866) 764-3327 www.sandelmedical.com

Aaqua Tools 3233 Fitzgerald Rd Rancho Cordova, CA 95742 (800) 777-2922, (916) 635-2922 sales@AaquaTools.com www.AaquaTools.com AaquaTools has been the leading provider of container cleaning equipment to the solid and medical waste industries for nearly 10 years. Beginning with our CartBlaster II cleaning system and now with the introduction of our Tip Too ergo friendly tool, our tools are unsurpassed when it comes to container cleaning technology. Abatement Technologies Suwanee, GA (800) 634-9091 www.abatement.com Advanced Vapor Technologies, LLC Everett, WA (800) 997-6584 www.advap.com AG Medical Systems Inc 13 Prosper Ct Lake in the Hills, IL 60156 (800) 262-2344 www.amsstoreandshred.com Allegheny Shredders PO Box 80 Delmont, PA 15626 (800) 245-2497

solutions@alleghenyshredders.com

www.alleghenyshredders.com AMB - Ecosteryl Montreal, QC Canada (888) 556 1556 www.ecosteryl.net American Baler Co Bellevue, OH (800) 843-7512 www.americanbaler.com

ARAMARK Healthcare Philadelphia, PA www.aramarkhealthcare.com Arch Enterprises, Inc Mexico, MO (800) 835-0478 www.archenterprises.com ARE Industries Wichita, KS (316) 943-5000 www.areindustries.com

Balemaster USA Crown Point, IN (219) 663.4525 www.balemaster.com

BioMed Protect, LLC Earth City, MO (800) 691-7150 www.biomedprotect.com

Battery Solutions Howell, MI (800) 852-8127 www.batteryrecycling.com

BioMedical Technology Solutions, Inc Englewood, CO (866) 525-2687 www.bmtscorp.com

Bayne Premium Lift Systems Greenville, SC (800) 535-2671 www.baynethinline.com

Biomist, Inc Wheeling, IL (847) 850-5530 www.biomistinc.com

BCS Canoga Park, CA 9 (888) 286-7188 www.scrapdr.com BD Medical Franklin Lakes, NJ (201) 847-6800 www.bd.com The Bell Process www.thebellprocess.com

Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE) Chicago, IL (312) 422.3860 www.ahe.org

Assured Waste Solutions PO Box 536 Gastonia, NC 28053 (864) 979-2121 Tonya Kraning tkraning@assuredwaste.com www.assuredwaste.com Assured Waste Solutions specializes in providing personalized single source remedies for the transfer and processing of Regulated Medical and Pharmaceutical Waste Streams for the Research, Pharmaceutical, Manufacturing and Healthcare Industries in the Southeastern United States, with our technology available across the US. See ad on pg 20.

B

Badrick Consulting Portland, OR 97220 (503) 539-8704 Tom Badrick tbadrick@aol.com www.badricksustainability.com See ad on pg 4.

Bemis Health Care 300 Mill St Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085 (920) 467-4621 Nancy Steinpreis hcg@bemismfg.com www.bemishealthcare.com “Control Today, Protect Tomorrow” with products that collect and dispose of infectious waste. These include our QuickDrain Liquid Infectious Waste Management Systems; Quick-Fit Suction Liners and Hi-Flow™ and Hydrophobic Rigid Suction Canisters; and Sentinel by Bemis™ Sharps Disposal Containers. See ad on pg 15. BioBag PO Box 369 Palm Harbor, FL 34683 (727) 789-1646 Jennifer Wagner jwagner@biobagusa.com www.biobagusa.com

Bomac Carts 201 Badger Parkway Darien, WI 53114 (262) 882-5000 Cindy Lapidakis sales@bomaccarts.com www.bomaccarts.com Heavy-Duty utility carts are our specialty. From Recycling, Manufacturing, Shipping/ Receiving, Commercial Laundry and Mailrooms, our offering meets a broad range of uses in many industries. See ad on pg 15.

Bondtech Corporation 1278 Hwy 461 Somerset, KY 42501 (606) 677-2616 Angel Aguiar mabel@bondtech.net www.bondtech.net Medical Waste & USDA Waste Treatment Reliable high vacuum autoclave systems processing more medical waste and USDA waste than any other technology. Shredding systems for medical waste and confidential paper. Medical waste containers, autoclavable bags, parts and service. See ad on pg 4.

OCT-dec 2012  Medical Waste Management

9

2012 C

Cactus LLC Charleston, SC (843) 856-7400 www.cactusllc.net Call2Recycle Atlanta, GA (877) 723-1297 www.call2recycle.org Century Products LLC Greensboro, NC (800) 927-0981 www.centuryproductsllc.com Class 1 Inc. Cambridge, ON Canada (800) 242 9723 www.class1inc.com

BUYERS ’ GUIDE

COMPANY INDEX Copper Development Association Inc New York, NY (212) 251-7200 www.copper.org Covidien Mansfield, MA 02048 (508) 261-8000 www.covidien.com CS Medical, LLC Creedmoor, NC (877) 255-9472 www.csmedicalllc.com

Deardorff Fitzsimmons Corp Merlin, OR (888) 582-2700 www.dfcorp.us Dial Corp., A Henkel Company Scottsdale, AZ (800) 253-DIAL www.dialprofessional.com Dornoch Medical Systems, Inc Riverside, MO (888) 466-6633 www.dornoch.com

Cumberland Engineering Corp New Berlin, WI (262) 641-8600 www.cumberland-plastics.com

E

D

Ecolab Inc St. Paul, MN (877) 927-9726 www.ecolab.com

Dan-Mar Components, Inc. Deer Park, NY (631) 242-8877 www.dan-mar.com

ECODAS 59100 Roubaix France +33 3 20 70 98 65 www.ecodas.com

Ecosafe Zero Waste Surrey, BC Canada (604) 560-5133 www.ecosafezerowaste.com

eRouteIt, LLC 4201 Lowell Circle Lincoln, NE 68502 (402) 202-2518 Brad Moncur Brad.Moncur@erouteit.com www.erouteit.com Spend less time working in your business and more time working on it. CRM, Routing/ Mapping, Document Management that is seamlessly integrated with your accounting system for complete business management and that is licensed for unlimited users. Designed specifically to address the needs of medical waste transporters and secure document destruction companies.

G

Geerpres Inc. Muskegon, MI (231) 773-3211 www.geerpres.com Clean Harbors 42 Longwater Dr P.O. Box 9149 Norwell, MA 02061-9149 (800) 282.0058 www.cleanharbors.com Since 1980, Clean Harbors has been providing comprehensive and customized waste management services to hospitals and healthcare institutions across North America. See ad on pg 6. Clear Computing Tinton Falls, NJ (888) 332-5327 www.clearcomputing.com Clorox Professional Products Oakland, CA (800) 537-1415 www.cloroxprofessional.com Commodity Resource & Environmental Inc 116 E Prospect Ave Burbank, CA 91502 (818) 843-2811 Stacy Aesoph saesoph@creweb.com www.creweb.com

Daniels Sharpsmart 135 S LaSalle St, Suite 2850 Chicago, IL 60603 (312) 546-8900 John Philippo

jphilippo@danielsinternational.com

www.danielsinternational.com Daniels Sharpsmart Inc is a premier regulated medical waste company dedicated to providing a superior level of service for our growing list of customers. ‘Making Healthcare Safer’ is the philosophy that guides Daniels and the company is committed to developing the safest, environmentally friendly products and services available for everyone involved in healthcare and to reduce risk for healthcare organizations. See ad on pg 2.

10 Medical Waste Management  OCT-dec 2012

EQ – The Environmental Quality Company 36225 Michigan Ave Wayne, MI 48184 (734) 329-8032 Bob Doyle Bob.doyle@eqonline.com www.eqonline.com EQ – The Environmental Quality Company is the leading provider of environmental management services and offers streamlined hazardous and nonhazardous waste recycling, treatment and disposal. EQ is a RCRA permitted, VAWD accredited DEA Registered Reverse Distributor and recognized by every State Board of Pharmacy to manage your pharmaceutical waste.

Golder Associates Inc solutions@golder.com www.golder.com Georgia-Pacific Professional Atlanta, GA (866)435-5647 www.gppro.com Germ Pro Products Tampa, FL ​(800) 966-5367 www.germproproducts.com

H

Harris Tyrone, GA (800) 373.9131 www.harrisequip.com Heritage Environmental Services (877) 436-8778 www.heritage-enviro.com HHA Services St. Clair Shores, MI (800) HHA-1140 www.hhaservices.com

2012 H Continued

Honua Technologies Honolulu, HI (808) 523-3140 www.honuatech.com Hubscrub Company 880 Page St Manchester, NH 03109 (603) 624-4243 Karl Soderquist karl@hubscrub.com www.hubscrub.com

I

BUYERS ’ GUIDE

COMPANY INDEX Jani-King International, Inc Addison, TX (800) JANIKING www.janiking.com Jedstock Inc PO Box 85 Middlesex, NJ 08846 (732) 356-7888 Paul DeCosimo jedstock@aol.com www.jedstock.com

K

Imec Technologies Inc Champaign, IL (217) 643 7488 www.imec.ie Infection Prevention Technologies, LLC Auburn Hills, MI (800) 359-9855 www.infectionpreventiontechnologies.com

IPS Balers Mfg Baxley, Georgia 31513 (912) 366-9460 www.ipsbalers.com

J

J.V. Manufacturing, Inc. Springdale, AR (800) 678-7320 www.jv.com

Kessler Consulting Inc 14620 N Nebraska Ave Bldg D Tampa, FL 33613 (813) 971-8333 Maureen Schaefer info@kesconsult.com www.kesconsult.com Kessler Consulting, Inc. (KCI) has provided innovative waste solutions for over 24 years with services that include: Waste assessments for hospital buildings, the OR and the ER Waste composition studies Garbage & recycling collection contract improvements Green education & marketing programs, including EPP Lean Six Sigma DMAIC projects. Kimberly-Clark Professional Roswell, GA (678) 352-6207 www.kcprofessional.com

L

Liquitech, Inc. Environmental Solutions Lombard, IL (630) 693-0500 www.liquitech.com Jake, Connor & Crew Inc 1644 Highland Rd West, Unit #2 Kitchener, ON N2N 3K7 Canada (877) 565-5253 www.jakeconnorandcrew.com Designed and engineered to exceed the demands of the global waste and recycling industries, our containers deliver the maximum level of strength and protection you need. Unmatched in structural integrity, durability and warranty, no container does more for you. With distribution locations available worldwide, we are “Your Best Friend in Waste and Recycling”.

M

Marathon Equipment Company Vernon, AL (800) 269-7237 www.nexgenbalers.com

N

Natur-Tec® Circle Pines, MN (763) 404-8700 www.natur-tec.com NewWay Global Energy Johnson Creek, WI (920) 988-0686 www.newwayglobal.net

O The Mark Costello Company 1145 E Dominguez St Carson, CA 90746 (310) 637-1851 www.mark-costello.com Celebrating 56 years of specializing and providing solutions to the most complex situations that have made us a leader in the waste handling equipment, on-site medical waste sterilization equipment and industrial recycling equipment in the market place. See ad on pg 14. Max-Pak Balers Rainesville, AL (800) 225-6458 www.maxpakbalers.com McClure Industries, Inc. Portland, OR (800) 752-2821 www.mcclureindustries.com

OnSite Sterilization, LLC Pottstown, PA (610) 495-8214 www.askonsite.com OnSite Sterilization & MedWaste Solutions provide safe, efficient and economical customer focused solutions for medical waste generators. We take a customer focused approach to solving the needs of our clients, striving for a customized solution and staying away from cookiecutter remedies while solving the very serious issues of treating RMW.

MedAssure 149 Yellowbrook Rd, Suite 100 Farmingdale, NJ 07727 (732) 363-7444 www.medassureservices.com MedClean Technologies, Inc Bethlehem, PA (888) 777-4077 www.gomcln.com Metal Conversion Technologies, LLC Cartersville, GA (678) 721-0022 www.metalconversion.com Micro-Scientific® Rolling Meadows, IL (847) 454-0835 www.micro-scientific.com Mirel Bioplastics by Telles Lowell, MA (978) 513-1800 www.mirelplastics.com

OZONATOR Industries P.O. Box 26030 Regina, SK  S4R 8R7 Canada (877) 662-7555 Peter Klaptchuk

pklaptchuk@OzonatorIndustries.com

www.ozonatorindustries.com OZONATOR is the most energy-efficient, cost-effective, odorless, environmentally friendly technology available in the biohazardous waste industry. With zero emissions, ease of operation, quick cycle time and low operating costs the OZONATOR is the complete solution to your bio-hazardous waste needs. See ad on pg 19.

OCT-dec 2012  Medical Waste Management 11

2012

BUYERS ’ GUIDE

COMPANY INDEX

P

Professional Disposables Intl (PDI) Orangeburg, NY (845) 365-1700 www.pdipdi.com

Parker Laboratories Fairfield, NJ (973) 276-9500 www.parkerlabs.com PC Scale Inc.™ Oxford, PA (800) 962-9264 www.pcscaletower.com

PSC Environmental Services Houston, TX (800) 726-1300 www.pscnow.com

Palmero Health Care Stratford, CT (800) 344-6424 www.palmerohealth.com

PCM Medical Waste Recycling 6203 80th Ave North Pinellas Park, FL 33781 (727) 547-6277 Jimmy Mack jimmymack@pcmprecision.com

www.pcmmedicalwasterecycling.com

PEAT International Inc Northbrook, IL (847) 559-8567 www.peat.com

Q

Quest Recycling Services, LLC. Frisco, TX (877) 321.1811 www.questrecycling.com

R

Red Bag Solutions Baltimore, MD (877) 973-3224 www.redbag.com Red Devil Equipment Co. Plymouth, MN (800) 221-1083 www.reddevilequipment.com ReGen LLC 50 CR 1672 Cullman, AL 35058 (256) 796-7898 www.regenllc.net

PHS West Inc 11283 River Rd NE Hanover, MN 55341 (888) 639-5438 Jacob Cummings info@phswest.com www.phswest.com PHS West, Inc. is the manufacturers of the Ergo-Express® line of Motorized Carts and Tugs and Featherweight Custom Linen/ EVS Carts. Post Medical Inc. Alpharetta, GA (866) 330-4845 www.postmedical.com Practice Greenhealth Reston, VA (888) 688-3332 www.practicegreenhealth.org Proctor & Gamble Cincinnati, OH (513) 983-1100 www.pg.com

Republic Machine 4104 Bishop Lane Louisville, KY 40218 (502) 637-6778 sales@republicmachine.com www.republicmachine.com Republic Machine’s medical waste shredder was designed and built for medical waste specifically to accommodate wet product and keep it completely contained within the machine. It employs a nonwrapping, resharpenable cutting system to accommodate fiber and abrasive glass and includes a torque-limiting clutch to protect the gearbox from heavy metal. Resurgent Health & Medical Golden, CO (800) 932-7707 www.resurgenthealth.com

San-I-Pak 23535 South Bird Rd Tracy, CA 95304 (209) 836-2310 Arthur McCoy arthurmccoy@sanipak.com www.sanipak.com Since 1978, San-I-Pak, Inc. has been providing technological solutions for managing infectious & solid waste. San-IPak has proven to be a critical component of the patient care infrastructure, especially during times of crisis. Contact us at sanipak@sanipak.com or (209) 836-2310 to find out how we can help your hospital become more financially and operationally independent. Schaefer Systems International, Inc Charlotte, NC (704) 944-4500 www.ssi-schaefer.us

RouteOptix Management Systems Inc Kitchener, ON Canada (866) 926-7849 www.routeoptix.com Rubbermaid Commercial Products LLC Winchester, VA (540) 667-8700

www.rubbermaidcommercial.com

S

Rehrig Healthcare 4010 East 26th St Los Angeles, CA 90058 (800) 421-6244 www.rehrighealthcare.com RHS has introduced the first reusable, Regulated Medical Waste Containers designed by healthcare professionals. These industry inspired 31 and 43 gallon containers deliver real improvements for efficiency, security and tamper resistance. See ad on pg 5.

12 Medical Waste Management  OCT-dec 2012

Safety-Med Products Burlington, WI (866) 421-3400 www.safety-med.com

Scott Distribution LLC DBA Scott Containers 750 Port America Place #275 Grapevine, TX 76051 (817) 756-6909 Carl Bullard info@scottcontainers.com www.scottcontainers.com Scott Containers is a distributor of large volume PG II rated disposable regulated medical waste containers: Biohazard – Red, Chemotherapy – Yellow Pharmaceutical – White, RCRA – Black Available through all major distribution channels and direct contracts. Call us today to help save money on your medical waste.

2012 S

BUYERS ’ GUIDE

COMPANY INDEX Continued

Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc Westboro, MA (800) 225-9293 www.semshred.com

Stericycle Lake Forest, IL (847) 367-5910 www.stericycle.com

T

U

UltraClenz Jupiter, FL (800) 931-8911  www.ultraclenz.com

Shred-Tech 295 Pinebush Rd Cambridge, ON N1T 1B2 Canada (800) 465-3214 shred@shred-tech.com www.shred-tech.com

Snyder Industries 5677 W 73rd St Indianapolis, IN 46278 (800) 351-1363 Sue Hornat shornat@snydernet.com

www.snyderplasticsolutions.com

Snyder Industries offers an extensive line of reusable Medical Waste Containers that is considered to be the industry standard for collection and transportation of medical waste. We offer sizes ranging from 10-17 gal, 20-40 gal, and 115 and 200 gal.

SteriMed Medical Waste Solutions Inc 23065 Commerce Road Farmington Hills, MI 48335 (855) STERIMED (855-783-7463) sales@sterimedsystems.com www.sterimedsystems.com SteriMed Systems (System70 & System15) are patented clean-air technology systems for on-site medical waste treatment and destruction. The Systems are compact in size and simultaneously shred, disinfect and dewater medical waste using an environmentally friendly EPA registered disinfectant. After the 20 minute automatic cycle, medical waste is converted to benign solid waste.

Sodexo Gaithersburg, MD (800) 763-3946 www.sodexousa.com Solid Waste Solutions Corp Evanston, IL (847) 328-5622

Spartan Chemical Co., Inc Maumee, OH (800) 537-8990 www.spartanchemical.com Sporicidin by Contec, Inc Spartanburg, SC (800) 762-3472 www.sporicidin.com

Stryker Kalamazoo, MI (269) 385-2600 www.stryker.com

Solutions Inc Louisville, KY 40241 (877) 228-2901 www.a-solutionsinc.com

UNTHA America 5 Merrill Industrial Dr Hampton, NH 03842 (603) 601-2304 Bernhard Mueggler Bernhard.mueggler@untha-america.com

TL Services, Inc. Van Buren, AR (877) 474-7227 www.tlservices.com

www.untha-america.com For over 30 years, UNTHA has been an international leader in mechanical size reduction for the recycling industry. Our advanced and proven technology as well as a wide range of single, dual and four shaft shredding systems enable us to provide cost-efficient, flexible, custom shredding solutions for virtually any commercial and industrial application.

Toter Inc. Statesville, NC (800) 424-0422 www.toter.com

UVAIRx Inc. Centennial, CO (303) 327-5355 www.uvairx.com

TRU-D LLC Memphis, TN (800) 774 5799 www.tru-d.com STI Biosafe 485 Southpoint Circle, Ste 200 Brownsburg, IN 46112 (317)858-8099 www.stibiosafe.com STI machines are the leading alternative treatment technology for regulated medical waste. Capacity, efficacy, longevity and simplicity are compelling reasons to choose STI. New financing and disposal options allow the operator to save even more over the life of the machine. See ad on pg 16.

www.solidwastesolutionscorp.com

Tecni-Quip Carts 960 Crossroads Blvd Seguin, TX 78155 (800) 826 1245 Jobeth Reilly tqcarts@tqind.com www.tqind.com TECNI-QUIP is a Cart Manufacturer, offering standard models and custom capabilities for the collection of: Waste, Biohazardous and Recycling. Models are available in Fiberglass, Stainless or Aluminum. Please visit our website www.tqind.com or call 800-826-1245. See ad on pg 16.

V

Van Dyk Recycling Solutions Stamford, CT (203) 967-1100 www.vandykbaler.com Vaportek Sussex, WI (888) 633-5633 www.vaportek.com

ATTENTION Readers!

Now is the time to schedule your 4-color logo/photo listing in next year’s Buyers’ Guide Issue. For more information, please call Rick at 440-257-6453. OCT-dec 2012  Medical Waste Management 13

2012 V Continued

Vecoplan LLC PO Box 7224 High Point, NC 27264 (336) 861-6070 Bob Gilmore info@vecoplanllc.com www.vecoplanllc.com Vecoplan engineers, manufactures, and provides parts & service on a range of shredders and systems for processing medical waste, destroying confidential records, and recycling scrap. An integral component in turnkey waste sterilization systems, our machines are used to shred sharps, textiles, plastics, and for red bag processing. AAA NAID compliant for secure destruction of paper, film, disks, and hard drives. See ad on pg 8.

BUYERS ’ GUIDE

W

COMPANY INDEX

Waste Management – Healthcare Solutions Houston, TX (713) 512-6200 www.wm.com

X

Xenex Healthcare Services LLC San Antonio, TX (800) 553-0069 www.xenex.com Xpedx Loveland, OH (888) 973-3976 www.xpedx.com

WEIMA America, Inc 3678 Centre Circle Fort Mill, SC 29715 (888) 440-7170 info@weimaamerica.com www.weimaamerica.com Our extensive range of machines include single-shaft shredders, four-shaft shredders, granulators and briquette presses. A variety of machines are available to handle multiple material sizes and capacity requirements. See ad on pg 6.

Whitaker Brothers 3 Taft Court Rockville, MD 20850 (800) 243-9226 John Brown jbrown@whitakerbrothers.com www.whitakerbrothers.com The 105 Hard Drive Shredder from Whitaker Brothers comes in single and dual stage configurations, with or without conveyor, to meet your requirements for destroying hard drives, CDs, DVDs, USB sticks, cell phones, Blackberries® and other electronic data storage devices. Energy efficient motors for high throughput and quiet operation.

Z

ZeroWaste Energy Systems Kleinburg, ON Canada www.zwes.ca ZRG Inc. Carlsbad CA (760) 438-8800 www.zrginc.com

www.mark-costello.com 14 Medical Waste Management  OCT-dec 2012

news briefs

High-Tech Polymers Resist Bacterial Attachment

N

ottingham, England—According to a News-Medical.net report, a breakthrough discovery in materials science— new class of polymers—may be the solution to preventing systemic infections related to medical devices. Employing a rapid throughput methodology to simultaneously screen thousands of different chemistries, Nottingham University researchers and MIT scientists examined bacteria-surface interactions to identify ones that would be effective as medical device coatings. Applied to urinary and venous catheters, these state-of-the-art polymers have been shown to repel bacteria colonies, known as biofilms, at the earliest stage. Researchers say the reduction rate of bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, is 96.7 percent. Preventing bacterial attachment to the devices lets the body’s own immune system react before bacteria can generate biofilms. The next stage of this research will be to develop the manufacture of these coatings to enable the performance of these materials to be assessed clinically. The inventors are in early stage discussions with a number of medical device companies. The results were published recently in Nature Biotechnology, www.nature.com/nbt/ index.html.

New InfectionControl Weapons Close to Market

R

ichmond, VA—Hospitalist.org reports that two Virginia companies have paired to offer a promising technology solution for preventing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) caused by bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Richmond-based Cupron (www.cupron. com/), a copper technology firm and Portsmouthbased EOS Surfaces (http://eos-surfaces.com/ cupron/), a specialty countertop producer, say that the copper oxide-infused products they have developed have tested 99.9 percent effective against Staphylococcus and Enterobacter bacteria. The companies are seeking approval of their efficacy claim from the US Environmental Protection Agency. Once they have the go ahead, they will market countertops, flooring, building components and furniture, and into fabrics such as gowns, uniforms, and linens infused with copper oxide. Copper has been known for its health, wellness, and antimicrobial purposes for thousands of years, dating back to the ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Aztecs.

Collecting Sorting Recycling Phone:262.882.1227 Fax: 262.882.3389 www.bomaccarts.com

Control Today. Protect Tomorrow. with Quick-Drain™ by Bemis

™

Today, it’s not only about protecting patients and staff; it’s about protecting the environment. Quick-Drain™ by Bemis puts liquid infectious waste where it belongs: the sanitary sewer system. There’s no need for chemicals, solidifiers, or other disposables— waste that can occupy landfills, or worse.

Easy • Safe • Fast Go to www.BemisHealthcare.com to see how Quick-Drain can increase safety, reduce waste and cut costs in your facility.

www.BemisHealthCare.com

1.800.558.7651 | BemisHealthCare.com

OCT-dec 2012  Medical Waste Management 15

MedicalWM_TQ_ad_8.2006_A

8/24/06

8:54 AM

news briefs

Page 1

Screening and Antimicrobial Methods Cut ICU Infections 44% Carts For For the the Long Long Haul Haul •• Carts Carts your your staff staff will will prefer prefer Carts

• EVS Collection Carts for Waste, Soiled Linen & Biohazardous • Meets Joint Commission • Designed and Approved for Medical Waste Handling • Variety of Models & Sizes to meet your needs 100%!

TQ-400 Enclosed Models • 6 Sizes 36 to 90 Cubic Feet Capacity

TQ-1200 TQ-1000 Bulk Carts • Many Sizes • Ergonomic Spring Loading Bottoms Available View our complete line

of carts and covers at: www.tqind.com www.tqind.com

TECNI-QUIP

FIRE RETARDANT

TQ-236 & TQ-227 Enclosed Models - Cost Effective

866-884-CART (2278) Toll Free

TQ Industries, Sequin, TX 78155 sales@tqind.com email: sales@tqind.com

S

an Diego, CA—Bathing ICU patients with chlorhexidine antiseptic soap and swabbing their noses with mupirocin ointment may help save lives and prevent the spread of bloodstream infections caused by Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other antibiotic resistant bacteria. As reported by Infection Control Today, the findings of a study revealing this simple infection control solution were presented at ID Week 2012. The Randomized Evaluation of Decolonization Versus Universal Clearance to Eliminate (REDUCE) MRSA study was conducted at 43 HCA community hospitals primarily by regular hospital personal, not specially trained researchers. More than 74,000 adult patients at 74 ICUs were involved. Three infection control methods were compared: • Screening (nasal screening, followed by contact isolation if the patient tested positive). • Target decolonization (nasal screening and, if positive, contact isolation and decolonization with chlorhexidine baths and mupirocin for 5 days). • Universal decolonization (no screening, all patients bathed with chlorhexidine for entire ICU stay, mupirocin applied nasally for five days). Investigators found that the number of patients harboring MRSA— not sick because of it, but at risk for later illness and for spreading it to others—dropped by more than a third. Bloodstream infections caused by MRSA and other pathogens decreased by nearly half. Decolonization of all ICU patients also eliminated the need for surveillance cultures and reduced the need for isolation precautions. The universal decolonization method is slated for implementation at virtually all HCA affiliates in early 2013. To view the study abstract, go to: https://idsa.confex.com/idsa/2012/ webprogram/Paper36049.html.

www.STIBiosafe.com 16 Medical Waste Management  OCT-dec 2012

news briefs

Hepatitis Outbreak Investigation Uncovers Multiple Violations at New Hampshire Hospital

E

xeter, NH—According to Boston.com, infection control lapses and inadequate security of controlled narcotics at Exeter Hospital may have led to a complicated scenario: a hepatitis C virus outbreak among the facility’s heart patients; theft of a powerful anesthetic from the hospital’s cardiac unit; and 30 additional hepatitis cases (to date) across 17 states where a 33-year-old, hepatitis C-positive medical technician worked. Exeter reported the outbreak last June, initiating an investigation by federal authorities and state regulators. Citations were issued and the hospital was required to formulate and submit a corrective action plan. In September, law enforcement officials arrested David Kwiatkowski, who is accused of stealing syringes filled with the drug fentanyl and replacing them with contaminated ones that were used on the heart patients. The hospital also had allowed Kwiatkowski to continue working although he had open, bleeding wounds, a violation of infection control rules. The hospital was cited for having unclear policy regarding work restrictions on employees with infectious disease or wounds. The syringes were stolen from the hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab between April and May 2012, at the same time Kwiatkowski was employed there as an x-ray technician. When it was learned that Kwiatkowski had been employed through staffing agencies at a total of 17 hospitals in other states (Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania), the full nature of the outbreak came to light. Upon learning that Kwiatkowski has been infected with hepatitis since at least 2010, patients who were treated at hospitals where he was employed were notified for hepatitis screening. At least 30 patients are thought to have been infected by him. Exeter has submitted corrective policy to US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services along with a statement of deficiencies issued last July. Policy changes include requiring staff members to report contagious conditions such as hepatitis C, and clearer procedures for securing potent anesthetics at all times. It also has formulated and submitted a new policy for reporting and monitoring infection risks among the staff. The state’s survey extended beyond the catheterization lab and the hospital violations, including inadequate instrument sterilization procedures as well as contact isolation and surgical room deficiencies, were found resulting in additional citations. Helen Mulligan, spokeswoman for the federal health agency, said the state will monitor compliance with unannounced follow-ups.

High Compliance Hand Washing Reduces MRSA Infections – Nine-Year Study

S

an Diego, CA— According to a paper presented during IDWeek 2012, increased hand washing compliance in medical, surgical and neuroscience intensive care units reduced methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection by 95 percent. An article on ScienceDaily.com reports that a nine-year study by Virginia Commonwealth University researchers focused on so-called “horizontal” infection prevention strategies, rather than across-the-board patient cultures, or “vertical” methods. High-compliance hand washing prevented not just MRSA, but all infections that are transmitted via contact. The approach also encourages patient healing because it avoids isolation. IDWeek is a new international forum for health professionals of varied backgrounds to collaborate and learn from each other’s expertise. The conference was held Oct. 17-21 in San Diego, Calif.

Hand Wash Monitoring System May Help Reduce HAIs

N

orthampton, England—A new electronic surveillance system using thermal sensors may help promote hand washing in hospitals, according to an article on the Hospitalist.org website. Developed by the global thermal technology company, Irisys (www. irisys.co.uk/), the monitoring system consists of thermal sensors deployed throughout healthcare facilities. The sensors detect people’s movements and determine accurate counts of hand washing opportunities, which are then compared to actual hand washing (or sanitizing gel) occurrences.

British Hospital Study Shows Cipro-MRSA Connection

L

ondon, England—According to an article on ScienceDaily.com, a research team led by St. George’s University of London has correlated the use of a commonly prescribed antibiotic with the spread of hospital acquired infections (HAI) caused by the ‘superbug,’ MRSA. The team also has identified a fast-developing, multi-drug resistant MRSA strain, CC22. During the 10-year study of MRSA in the hospital environment, researchers noticed that when ciprofloxacin prescriptions fell from 70-100 daily doses for every thousand occupied beds to about 30 doses, there was a 50 percent drop in the number of patients testing positive for MRSA. Ciprofloxacin is the most commonly prescribed antibiotic in the fluoroquinolones family of drugs. The study findings suggest that fluoroquinolones, in general, help MRSA to thrive in hospitals, according to lead investigator, Dr. Jody Lindsay. It has been assumed for awhile that penicillin-type drugs aid in the survival of MRSA. Improved hygiene and hand washing had only a small effect on reducing MRSA infection rates. Dr. Lindsay says the most effective way to control MRSA and other hospital-based superbugs is to continue finding alternative ways to use antibiotics, rather than simply focusing on infection control techniques. The study was published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, www.jac.oxfordjournals.org.

Infection Control More Effective When Hospitals Work Together

P

ittsburgh, PA—HealthDayNews.com reports findings of a study that shows patients gain when hospitals work together on infection control. The study, which was published in the October issue of the journal Health Affairs, employed data collection at 29 hospitals in Orange County, CA. Computer simulation was used to test “contact isolation” methods to prevent spread of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. Dr. Bruce Lee, director of the Public Health and Infectious Diseases Computational and Operations Research group at the University of Pittsburgh, believes that hospitals in the same region using identical methods is key because local hospitals often share patients extensively. Contact isolation begins with testing all patients for MRSA at hospital admittance. If they test positive, hospital staff is required to wear gloves and gowns whenever entering their room or interacting with them. The investigators ran simulations and found that when one hospital in an area employed contact isolation methods, the infection rates were reduced at nearby hospitals that did not use those methods. When 75% of the hospitals in an area implemented the methods, MRSA prevalence decreased an extra 3.85 percent over what each hospital could have achieved on its own. The decrease in long-term acute care facilities was even larger, at more than 12 percent. For study information go to www.publichealth.pitt.edu/news.php?id=341. OCT-dec 2012  Medical Waste Management 17

news briefs

New Study Says Going Green Saves Money

Hospital Control of Drug-Resistant Organisms Varies Widely

C

­­­N

hicago, IL—With health system costs constantly on the rise, are sustainability programs a luxury? A study funded by The Commonwealth Fund and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation was conducted to answer this question. The research indicates that going green can achieve positive environmental results while boosting the bottom line. The Healthcare Research Collaborative collected data from hospitals that were implementing energy conservation, waste reduction, and improving operating room supplies purchasing efficiencies. They then used metrics to extrapolate future savings. The result? Savings of more than $5.4 billion over five years, and $15 billion over ten years were the conservative estimates. Susan Kaplan, JD Research Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Health and Director of the Health Care Research Collaborative said she kept hearing about health systems that were saving money through their sustainability programs. Kaplan offered several examples: “Gundersen Lutheran Health System improved energy efficiency by 25 percent, reducing environmental emissions linked with disease while saving more than $1 million a year on its electricity bills,” she said. Kaiser Permanente reported saving $25 million a year through its environmentally preferable purchasing program. Dignity Health reported that in 2011 its reprocessing system to reuse products diverted 198,000 pounds of waste from landfills and saved the system $5.6 million. Kapan noted, “There are many more aspects of greening health care that we would like to investigate – including the extent to which greening activities can reduce disease in the broader population, saving money for hospitals and also for society. It increasingly appears that “going green” not only benefits health and the environment, but saves money. . .” For more information, visit http://healthierhospitals.org/.

Researchers Use Genotyping to Identify Bacterial Outbreak

G

reenville, NC—A new genotyping technique used by East Carolina University researchers helped to identify the source of an outbreak of Mycobacterium mucogenicum, according to a report on ScienceDaily.com. The outbreak, the first to occur in an ambulatory facility, involved four young patients with long-term implants (ports for administering medication). The patients had been receiving treatments for sickle cell anemia at the facility. To identify the particular strain of m. Mucogenicum that had caused the outbreak, researchers from the Brody School of Medicine employed a repetitive sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (Diversilab® system) to first compare the bacteria with a control, and then to match it with samples taken from examining room water faucets. M. mucogenicum is commonly found in tap water; the investigators were able to make a positive match with samples from the faucet aerators using the new technique. All four patients recovered after being given antibiotics. A review of clinical procedures and infection control practices was conducted at the facility when it was learned that a healthcare worker had prepared injections at examining room sink counters. The evidence suggests that the fluid bag being used to prepare injections became contaminated when the worker washed her hands. The research indicated that removal of faucet aerators in areas where immunosuppressed patients receive treatment may help prevent future outbreaks. The genotyping technique is discussed in an article published in the November issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

18 Medical Waste Management  OCT-dec 2012

ew York, NY—According to vaccinenewsdaily.com, the findings of a recently-released study reveals inconsistencies in hospital infection control that are leading to the spread of drug-resistant disease. Most impacted are at-risk and elderly patients. Columbia School of Nursing researchers surveyed infection-control managers from 250 hospitals about their practices for screening and control of multi-drug-resistant organisms. While 98 percent of ICUs involved in the study reported a policy for contact precautions after a positive culture, less than one third placed a priority, or instituted plans for isolation/ contact precautions for patients whose screening results were pending. The study conclusions suggest that limited staffing and shift lengths are major contributors to the problem. In addition, the study noted that different sets of recommendations from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America and other organizations, as well as state laws, play a role as well. ICUs with mandatory reporting and electronic surveillance systems were more likely to include policies for periodic infection screening following admission. Pre- and post-laboratory infection test policies varied widely, however. Among the hospitals studied, 59 percent routinely screened for Methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aurea, or MRSA; 11 percent screened regularly for C. difficile; 12 percent screened for gram-negative rods; 22 percent screened for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus. “Rather than being driven by legislative mandates that are not evidence-based, (multidrug-resistant organism) screening should be based on a facility’s risk assessment, as the epidemiology of these organisms can vary from region to region,” said Michelle Farber, president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, in a news release. “APIC recommends that each institution design an HAI prevention program that is effective for their facility and needs.” The study involved interviews at thousands of National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) hospitals and was published in the October 2012 issue of the American Journal of Infection Control. For more information on the study, visit www.ajicjournal.org and Columbia University School of Nursing.

Metalloacid Coatings – A New Answer to HAI Prevention

B

esancon, France—French researchers tested the growth of eleven different microorganisms on surfaces coated with molybdenum trioxide metalloacid and non-coated surfaces. Metalloacids inhibit microorganisms most responsible for hospital infections because of a chemical reaction that creates an acidic pH. The researchers, from Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Tours and the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besançon, contaminated the coated and uncoated surfaces with two Staphylococcus aureus strains, Clostridium difficile, three extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae strains, vancomycin-resistant vanA Enterococcus faecium, Psuedomonas aeruginosa, multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumanii, and two fungal strains of Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus. They found that the metalloacid-coated surfaces exhibited significant antimicrobial activity within 2-6 hours of initial contact. The growth of non-spore-forming organisms was limited. Spore-forming organisms were completely unaffected by the coated surfaces, however. The researchers published their study in BioMed Central’s open access journal, Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control. Hospital acquired infections result in an estimated 99,000 deaths a year in the USA alone. Although cleaning and disinfecting surfaces greatly helps reduce these infections, biocidal coatings appear to be highly promising, even for multi-drug resistance micro-organisms and could become an integral component in overall strategy.

Mother Earth Will Love You (And So Will Your Accountant)

Our on-site ZERO emission bio-hazard waste treatment saves you up to 50% on your waste management costs. Yes, you read it right. Using the power of ozone, our environmentally-friendly OZONATOR technology can quickly and safely treat your bio-hazardous waste on-site, while at the same time, saving you money!

new

BENEFITS

• • • • • •

NG-3000

99.9999% sterilization with up to 90% volume reduction – up to 2,640 lbs. per hour

Easy to Budget — Predictable Monthly Costs Available Through Our LEASE PROGRAMS

Zero emissions Clean, safe and environmentally-friendly Proven science and technology Averages less than $75 in energy in a 24-hour day Easy to use - any staff member can run it No special boxes, liners or refrigeration of waste

for a cleaner, safer environment To find out how to make your facility cleaner and safer ... and the planet a better place to live,

visit www.OzonatorIndustries.com or call 1.306.791.0900

OCT-dec 2012  Medical Waste Management 19

Medical Waste Management Serving Healthcare Facility Waste Management Professionals

www.medicalwastemanagementnews.com

VOL. VIII NO. 4

6075 Hopkins Road • Mentor, OH 44060

PRSRT STD

Ph: 440-257-6453 • Fax: 440-257-6459 Email: downassoc2@oh.rr.com

Mentor, OH Permit No. 2

U.S. Postage

PAID

  OCT-dec 2012

Special buyers’ guide PAGES 7-14

TOP STORIES California County Holds Drug Manufacturers Responsible for Take-Back Program

PAGE 1

New Infection-Control Weapons Close to Market

PAGE 15

Screening and Antimicrobial Methods Cut ICU Infections by 44%

PAGE 16

Researchers Use Genotyping to Identify Bacterial Outbreak

PAGE 18

Pick Your Future for a Customized Solution Assured Waste Solutions specializes in providing personalized single source remedies for the transfer and processing of Regulated Medical and Pharmaceutical Waste Streams for the Research, Pharmaceutical, Manufacturing and Healthcare Industries in the Southeastern United States, with our technology available across the US.

We have a Solution for all Your Waste Stream Needs.

Red Bag ~ Sharps ~ Pharma ~ Technology

www.assuredwastesolutions.com