A Backwards Glance (MRSA), Clostridium difficile ( C. diff ) and norovirus, often shutting down schools and hospitals until they were thoroughly disin-fected. March 28, 2011 — LOS ANGELES — A rare antibiotic-resistant superbug is spread-ing through health care facilities in Southern California, according to ABC News. According to a study from the L.A. County Department of Public Health, about 350 cases of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) have been reported in Los Angeles County between June and December of 2010. “These patients tend to be elderly, they are commonly on ventilators and they often stay at the facility for an extended period of time,” said Dr. Dawn Terashita, medical epi-demiologist and lead author of the study. CRKP is another superbug, much like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aure-us (MRSA), that can outwit typical antibiot-ics, the article noted. June 10, 2011 — ST. CATHERINES, ONTARIO — Despite stepping up infec-tion control measures, Clostridium diffi-cile ( C. diff ) continues to spread in St. Catherine’s General Hospital, according to The Standard . The Niagara Health System decided to cancel elective surgeries and place further restrictions on visitors while the hospital attempts to get the outbreak under control, the article stated. “While the number of known cases of hospital-acquired C. difficle has grown to 22, with 16 of the patients in isolation for treatment, most are not actually new cases,” said Dr. Jessica Hopkins of the Niagara Public Health Department. Acquisitions The buying and selling of companies isn’t a new practice and tends to happen more often than is reported. 2011, however, saw a few acquisitions that resonated throughout the industry. June 1, 2011 — STURTEVANT, WI — Sealed Air Corporation and Diversey Holdings Inc. have entered into a defini-tive agreement under which Sealed Air will acquire Diversey in a transaction valued at $4.3 billion, according to a press release. “This transaction represents a strategic growth opportunity that leverages Sealed Air’s core competencies and positions our company to further capitalize on the megatrends that drive both businesses,” said William V. Hickey, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Sealed Air. September 23, 2011 — BURLINGTON, WA — Legend Brands Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bill Bruders has announced that RPM International has signed an agreement to purchase the Legend Brands family of companies, according to a press release. Effective September 30, the Legend Brands companies, including Dri-Eaz Products, ProRestore Products and Sapphire Scientific, will become part of RPM2, a unit of RPM International, the release stated. According to the release, under the sales agreement, Legend Brands will remain a stand-alone operation within RPM2 and will continue to be led by its existing manage-ment team and headed by Bruders. CM The Voice of the IAQ Industry A Training com IAQ Training Institute LLC Product Information no. 251 on page 24 20 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • December 2011
CMM – Archives Dec 2011: 20
