Study: One in four carry MRSA in nursing homes

BELFAST, Ireland — A recent study by Queen’s University Belfast and Antrim Area Hospital has found that one in four residents in nursing homes carry methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria, according to Infection Control Today.

The findings, which have been published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, highlight the need to increase infection control strategies in nursing homes and other health care facilities, the story stated.

For the study, swabs from 1,111 residents and 553 staff in 45 nursing homes in the United Kingdom were taken and studied, the story noted.

According to the study, 24 percent of residents and 7 percent of staff were found to be colonized with MRSA, meaning they were carrying the bacteria but not showing signs of infection or illness.

Dr. Paddy Kearney, a consultant medical microbiologist with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, said: "We decided to carry out the study after noticing an apparent increase in recent years in the number of patients who had MRSA when they were admitted to hospital from nursing homes. In hospitals, routine checks are carried out to identify those most at risk of MRSA colonization (carrying it on their skin and/or nose) and infection control policies are put in place but this is not always feasible in private nursing homes."

To combat this potential problem, educating both patients and staff about MRSA and increasing cleaning frequency and efficiency is crucial, the story added.

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Watt Plaza earns LEED-EB Gold certification

LOS ANGELES — Watt Plaza, a 900,000-square-foot, twin 23-story office tower complex was recently awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) Gold certification, according to KABC-TV.

This certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) makes Watt Plaza the first office building in Los Angeles to achieve such a distinction and one of only five in California, the story stated.

LEED certification considers the following criteria into account: Water conversation; waste recovery; alternative transportation; energy efficiency measures; and indoor air quality (IAQ), the story noted.

Sustainable aspects of the building include: Low-flow toilets and fixtures, 88 water-free urinals and an indoor air quality management program, the story added.

Self-cleaning toilet doubles as urinal

MILAN, Italy — There is a revolutionary new urinal on the market from Italy-based designer Young Sang Eun that doubles as a toilet with the push of a button, according to Dvice.com.

The Ultimate Clean Toilet is self-cleaning thanks to a built-in ultraviolet (UV) light system and steam that sterilizes the unit after each use, the story stated.

Designed with limited-space urban environments in mind, the Ultimate Clean Toilet spins around, flipping down a seat that transforms it from a chic urinal into a streamlined toilet, the story noted.

The multipurpose loo uses less water than traditional urinals and toilets and can save facilities money on top of increasing restroom aesthetics, the story added.

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IEHA offers exclusive Master's Program

WESTERVILLE, OH — The International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA) is offering the exclusive opportunity to their Registered Executive Housekeepers (REH) to participate in a Master's Program, according to a press release.

According to the release, the program includes coursework to assist in updating IEHA's 330-hour Self Study Program and a thesis or dissertation that will become part of IEHA's permanent educational curriculum.

Education has been the top priority for IEHA to increase professionalism in the industry ever since it was established in the 1930s and the 330-hour program has been revised every two years as needed since its inception in 1985, the release stated.

During the 2009 Masters Program coursework process, the following modules of the Self Study Program will be enhanced: Management Philosophy & Style; Communication; Planning & Organizing; Staffing & Staff Development; Continuous Improvement; Housekeeping Techniques; Work Controls; Pest Control; Chemical Controls; Waste Management; Purchasing; Accounting & Budgets; Safety & Security; Interiors; and Laundry & Linen, the release noted.

Green concepts and sustainability will be incorporated throughout all of the modules and all materials for the 330-Hour Self Study Program will be available online by the end of 2009, the release added.

The greenest building in America

CHESTERFIELD, MO — Washington University recently opened the doors to one of the greenest buildings in the world and aims to meet one of the toughest green building standards: The Living Building Challenge, according to a Matter Network story hosted by Reuters.

The Living Learning Center, a 2,900-square-foot building at the university's Tyson Research Center that not only provides its own water and power, but is also built from reclaimed wood, captures and stores all of the water it needs and harness energy from wind turbines and solar panels, the story stated.

According to the story, the Living Learning Center has a green roof that catches rainwater, which is filtered and stored in a 3,000-gallon tank underground, eliminating its municipal water consumption.

Eden Brukman, research director at the Cascadia Region Green Building Council, said: "In order to be certified as a Living Building, it must be fully operational for at least 12 consecutive months; this program demands proof that the occupants engage the project as anticipated. After all, an empty building serves no purpose."

According to the article, the Cascadia Region Green Building Council launched the Living Building Challenge three years ago, and since then, over 60 proposed structures have been registered.

The Learning Center monitors all building processes and displays avoided emissions to show how efficiently the building is operating, the story noted.

Living buildings are a step beyond current green building requirements such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and are expected to be the high performance buildings of tomorrow, the story added.

First LEED-EB certified hotel in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO — The Hotel Carlton recently earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Building (LEED-EB) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), according to a press release.

The certification makes the 161-room Hotel Carlton, a Joie de Vivre boutique property, the first lodging property in San Francisco to earn LEED-EB certification, the release stated.

Pamela Flank, the Hotel Carlton's general manager, said: "We are thrilled and proud that we can now say Hotel Carlton is LEED-EB Gold certified, making it the highest rated hotel by LEED standards in San Francisco. Sustainability makes good business sense because it conserves resources. Every operations decision we make at the hotel is filtered through our mission to reduce our impact on the environment."

According to the release, the Hotel Carlton was also recently awarded a top score of 100 from Energy Star, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Sustainable aspects of the hotel include: Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs; proportioned dispensers for toiletries in guest rooms; low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints; and the use of environmentally friendly cleaning chemicals, the release noted.

In achieving LEED-EB Gold certification, the Hotel Carlton was able to: Reduce CO₂ emissions by 176 tons; divert 80 percent of waste from landfills; reduce water consumption by 27 percent; produce 9 percent of its energy on-site through solar panels; and get rid of 40 percent of traditional cleaning chemicals, the release added.

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School executive director allegedly embezzles $1.38 million

June 3, 2009
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The former executive director of the now closed Heart of the Earth Charter School is charged with eight counts of felony theft by swindle for his role in the disappearance of $1.38 million, according to the Pioneer Press.

Joel Pourier, who falsely claimed he had earned a master's degree in business administration from Chadron State College, made it appear that he was being paid for performing cleaning work for the school, the story stated.

According to the complaint filed by the Hennepin County attorney's office, Pourier explained the money by saying he and his wife were receiving gaming proceeds as members of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, which was not true.

In all, the complaint lists 124 canceled checks or fund transfers from the school's account to Pourier's accounts from August 2003 through July 2008, the story noted.

According to the story, Pourier, who often forged the signatures of board members and school administrators, was living lavishly and running up thousands of dollars in charges at local nightclubs while the school lacked money for field trips, supplies, computers and textbooks, eventually forcing its closure last summer.

Pourier is being held in jail on $25,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court July 30, the story added.