MIAMI — Details remain blurry regarding an incident where hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) claimed the lives of two infants in the Neo-Natal Intensive Care unit of the Miami Children's Hospital, according to MMIX-TV.
Specimens of the bacteria have been sent to the Florida Department of Health in Tallahassee for testing, the story stated.
Dr. Vincent Conte of the Miami-Dade County Health Department said: "As far as elaborating on the type of bacteria that's causing the infection, we prefer not to say at this point because again we've heard word of mouth but haven't seen anything in writing."
It is not uncommon for infants to die because of an infection at a hospital; it is uncommon, however, for two infants to die at the same facility in consecutive days, the story noted.
Doctors are keeping a close watch on a third infant who was also affected by the infection but is still alive, the story added.
According to the story, the Health Department continues to back the nationally ranked Neo-Natal Intensive Care unit of the Miami Children's Hospital, calling it "safe and reputable."
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Georgia-Pacific job cuts
DEBUQUE, IA — Atlanta-based Georgia-Pacific Corporation is reducing the workforce at its Debuque plant by "about a dozen," according to the Telegraph Herald.
The plant, located on Kerper Boulevard, employs a total of 90 people, the story stated.
Georgia-Pacific spokeswoman Julie Davis said: "It’s just the current market situation, obviously business is slowing in a lot of areas."
The paper and packaging company says the layoffs will occur throughout the week, the story noted.
The plant, located on Kerper Boulevard, employs a total of 90 people, the story stated.
Georgia-Pacific spokeswoman Julie Davis said: "It’s just the current market situation, obviously business is slowing in a lot of areas."
The paper and packaging company says the layoffs will occur throughout the week, the story noted.
Tenant awarded $1 million in mold suit
TEWKSBURY, MA — After four years of litigation, a tenant who was sickened by mold was awarded $1 million for her sufferings, according to WCVB-TV.
Helen Herman, formally of 56 River Road, claims that her complaints of mold in the house she was renting was making her ill were ignored by her landlords, the story stated.
According to the story, severe asthma was triggered by mold exposure and is among the things that permanently disabled Herman, forcing her to leave her Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) job of 20 years.
All of Herman's possessions became contaminated and she was forced to throw everything she owned away, the story noted.
Attorney Robert Doyle said: "[The landlords] just kept turning it over after slapping on a new coat of paint."
Under the Consumer Protection Act, the judge could double or even triple the jury's verdict due to negligence on the part of the landlords, the story added.
Helen Herman, formally of 56 River Road, claims that her complaints of mold in the house she was renting was making her ill were ignored by her landlords, the story stated.
According to the story, severe asthma was triggered by mold exposure and is among the things that permanently disabled Herman, forcing her to leave her Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) job of 20 years.
All of Herman's possessions became contaminated and she was forced to throw everything she owned away, the story noted.
Attorney Robert Doyle said: "[The landlords] just kept turning it over after slapping on a new coat of paint."
Under the Consumer Protection Act, the judge could double or even triple the jury's verdict due to negligence on the part of the landlords, the story added.
MRSA found at elementary school
STREETSBORO, OH — A visitor who was recently at Wait Primary School was diagnosed with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), according to The Gateway News.
Parents were notified about the potential risk of contamination from the individual and school officials want to make sure students are washing their hands regularly and taking showers or baths, the story stated.
The custodial staff has been spending extra time cleaning areas where the individual had been, and “specialized chemicals” will be used in those areas over the weekend to make sure they are "double clean," the story noted.
Superintendent Linda T. Keller said the individual was not a student, but declined to provide more details about the situation, the story added.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), MRSA is a bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics and is usually a skin infection with symptoms of abscesses, boils and pus-filled lesions. It is normally contracted by people with weakened immune systems in hospitals and health care facilities, but can also be spread by skin-to-skin contact or by items that have come in skin contact with an infection.
Parents were notified about the potential risk of contamination from the individual and school officials want to make sure students are washing their hands regularly and taking showers or baths, the story stated.
The custodial staff has been spending extra time cleaning areas where the individual had been, and “specialized chemicals” will be used in those areas over the weekend to make sure they are "double clean," the story noted.
Superintendent Linda T. Keller said the individual was not a student, but declined to provide more details about the situation, the story added.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), MRSA is a bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics and is usually a skin infection with symptoms of abscesses, boils and pus-filled lesions. It is normally contracted by people with weakened immune systems in hospitals and health care facilities, but can also be spread by skin-to-skin contact or by items that have come in skin contact with an infection.
Janitor involved in petty crime ring
BATON ROUGE, LA — A janitor contracted to clean schools in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and the Ascension Parish School System has been arrested for her role in what investigators believe is a petty crime ring, according to WBRZ-TV.
Marnia Marie Parks, a contract cleaner from Jani-Care Commercial Cleaning Inc., was involved in the thefts of purses, wallets and cell phones from employees at nine public schools in the Parishes of Ascension and East Baton Rouge, the story stated.
According to the story, Parks was booked on seven counts of simple burglary, three counts of attempted theft and six counts of unauthorized use of a credit card.
It is believed that Parks had three accomplices whom she helped gain access into the buildings through the clearance granted by her janitorial position, the story noted.
The incidents in East Baton Rouge occurred between March 2 and March 6, while the Ascension incidents took place on February 9, the story added.
Chris Trahan, a spokesman with the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, said that the school system has a contract with Aramark Corporation for its janitorial services and that Aramark subcontracts with Jani-Care.
Marnia Marie Parks, a contract cleaner from Jani-Care Commercial Cleaning Inc., was involved in the thefts of purses, wallets and cell phones from employees at nine public schools in the Parishes of Ascension and East Baton Rouge, the story stated.
According to the story, Parks was booked on seven counts of simple burglary, three counts of attempted theft and six counts of unauthorized use of a credit card.
It is believed that Parks had three accomplices whom she helped gain access into the buildings through the clearance granted by her janitorial position, the story noted.
The incidents in East Baton Rouge occurred between March 2 and March 6, while the Ascension incidents took place on February 9, the story added.
Chris Trahan, a spokesman with the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, said that the school system has a contract with Aramark Corporation for its janitorial services and that Aramark subcontracts with Jani-Care.
Sedwick County warns of Shigella outbreak
WICHITA, KS — Sedgwick County warns it is experiencing an outbreak of Shigella as 23 cases have been reported in the first two and a half months of 2009, more than all of last year's 20 total cases, according to KSCW-TV.
The bacteria is passed through fecal matter, so proper hand washing is crucial in defense against its spread, the story stated.
According to the story, the Shigella bacteria causes diarrhea, fever, vomiting and cramps and can persist for as long as a week.
While the children at the Wichita State Child Development Center sleep during nap time, the staff makes sure to clean high-touch areas of the classroom with disinfectant wipes, the story noted.
The Wichita State Child Development Center is particularly prone to an outbreak of this sort as many of the toddlers are not fully toilet trained, the story added.
The bacteria is passed through fecal matter, so proper hand washing is crucial in defense against its spread, the story stated.
According to the story, the Shigella bacteria causes diarrhea, fever, vomiting and cramps and can persist for as long as a week.
While the children at the Wichita State Child Development Center sleep during nap time, the staff makes sure to clean high-touch areas of the classroom with disinfectant wipes, the story noted.
The Wichita State Child Development Center is particularly prone to an outbreak of this sort as many of the toddlers are not fully toilet trained, the story added.
Janitors at Microsoft protest their workload
REDMOND, WA — Employees of SBM Site Services that are contracted to provide janitorial services at Microsoft Corporation are protesting, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal.
The janitors are protesting cutbacks by a subcontractor, claiming their workload has increased as a result of recent layoffs, the story stated.
SBM insists that the layoffs are necessary and that the increased workload will have to be handled due to tough economic times, the story noted.
The workers, members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 6, staged an initial protest on March 13 and are holding follow-up events on the Microsoft campus this week, the story added.
The janitors are protesting cutbacks by a subcontractor, claiming their workload has increased as a result of recent layoffs, the story stated.
SBM insists that the layoffs are necessary and that the increased workload will have to be handled due to tough economic times, the story noted.
The workers, members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 6, staged an initial protest on March 13 and are holding follow-up events on the Microsoft campus this week, the story added.
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