JANUARY 13, 2009–WINONA, MN–Global custom-engineered thermoplastic compounder RTP Co has established a controlled manufacturing environment dedicated to the production of clean compounds for sensitive applications in medical, electronic, and other industries at its Winona, MN headquarters location.

“One common theme we hear from many markets is the desire for clean compounds,” says Gregg Newby, global director of marketing and business development. “In response, we have established an Ultra Clean Compounding Center to manufacture materials for applications with higher quality requirements. The new center is a controlled production environment offering significant improvements that allows us to now supply superior quality clean compounds.”

Currently operational with two extrusion lines, the 3,300 sq. ft. self-contained Ultra Clean Compounding Center has capacity for four lines and is capable of producing almost any product in the company’s portfolio.

Extrusion and post-extrusion operations (cooling, pelletizing, classifying, and packaging) are conducted inside a climate-controlled, positive-pressure environment with interlocks to limit access.

Extruders are fully automated with touch-screen controls that allow complete process monitoring and data acquisition. “Compounds produced in our new facility are also ideal for applications that require extensive data recording and robust traceability of the manufacturing process,” adds Newby.

Stringent operating and finished product testing protocols are used to minimize any potential for cross-contamination during manufacture. Good manufacturing practices (GMPs) are utilized in management and operation of the new center.

Initial demand for clean materials has primarily been driven by the medical and electronics industries, but the importance of improved cleanliness is spreading to other applications and industries where the cost of contamination in rejected parts is extremely high.

Source: RTP Co.

Visit www.rtpcompany.com

JANUARY 7, 2009–MINNEAPOLIS, MN–The American Filtration and Separations Society (AFS) is offering short course training on May 4, 2009 in Bloomington, MN.

To kick off the 22nd Annual Conference, May 4-7, 2009, that AFS is holding, there will be twelve short courses on May 4. Two of these courses are “Basics of Liquid Filtration” and “Basics of Gas/Air Filtration.”

In the “Basic Liquid Filtration & Separation” course, attendees will learn the overall spectrum of solid/liquid separation. They will gain the basic understanding of the principles behind liquid filtration so they can determine what type of filter will meet their requirements. There is an overview of the various competing technologies.

This course will cover particles and fluid properties; principles of liquid filtration; liquid filtration equipment; liquid filtration media; filter aids; and liquid filter performance, testing, and standards.

In the “Basic Gas/Air Filtration & Separation” course, attendee will learn the overall spectrum of solid/gas separation. They will gain the basic understanding of the principles behind gas filtration so they can determine what type of filter will meet their requirements. There is an overview of the various competing technologies.

The course will cover particle properties; principles of gas filtration; gas filter media; gas filtration equipment; gas filter design; and gas filter performance, testing, and standards.

These courses are taught by a team of instructors that are experts in the field with combined experience of more than 200 years.

For information on the “Basic Liquid Filtration & Separation” training and instructor biographies go to www.afssociety.org/shortcourse/liquidfiltration.htm.

For information on the “Basic Gas/Air Filtration & Separation” training and instructor biographies go to www.afssociety.org/shortcourse/gasfiltration.htm.

Source: AFS

Visit www.afssociety.org/spring2009

JANUARY 8, 2009–ATLANTA, GA–The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is collaborating with public health officials in many states, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate an ongoing multistate outbreak of human infections due to Salmonella serotype Typhimurium.

As of Jan. 7, 2009, 388 persons infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Typhimurium have been reported from 42 states. Among the 372 persons with dates available, illnesses began between Sept. 3 and Dec. 29, 2008, with most illnesses beginning after Oct. 1, 2008. Patients range in age from <1 to 103 years; 48 percent are female. Among persons with available information,18 percent were hospitalized.

CDC and its public health partners are vigorously working to identify the specific contaminated product, probably a food or foods, that is causing this outbreak. Outbreaks from a widely distributed contaminated product may cause illnesses across the United States, and the identity of the contaminated product is often not readily apparent.

In outbreaks like this one, identification of the contaminated product requires conducting detailed standardized interviews with persons who were ill and with non-ill members of the public (“controls”) to compare foods they recently ate and other exposures. Using statistical methods, the contaminated item is identified as one to which significantly more ill persons than controls were exposed. This statistically based method of identifying contaminated products is often supplemented by laboratory testing of suspect products. The investigation is labor intensive and typically takes weeks. It is not always successful.

As soon as a source is identified, if there is evidence of ongoing risk, public health officials advise the public to avoid it and conduct recalls when appropriate.

Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. Infection is usually diagnosed by culture of a stool sample. The illness usually lasts four to seven days. Although most people recover without treatment, severe infections may occur. Infants, elderly persons, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness. When severe infection occurs, Salmonella may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.

Source: CDC

Visit www.cdc.gov

JANUARY 6, 2009–ATLANTA, GA–In the last decade, more than 60,000 patients in the United States were asked to get tested for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) because health-care personnel in settings outside hospitals failed to follow basic infection control practices, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This first full review of all the CDC investigations over the past 10 years of health care-associated viral hepatitis outbreaks appears in the January 6th issue of the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

“This report is a wake-up call,” says Dr. John Ward, director of CDC’s Division of Viral Hepatitis. “Thousands of patients are needlessly exposed to viral hepatitis and other preventable diseases in the very places where they should feel protected. No patient should go to their doctor for health care only to leave with a life-threatening disease.”

In the United States, transmission of HBV and HCV while receiving health care has been considered uncommon. However, a review of CDC outbreak information revealed a total of 33 identified outbreaks outside of hospitals in 15 states, during the past decade: 12 in outpatient clinics, six in hemodialysis centers and 15 in long-term care facilities, resulting in 450 people acquiring HBV or HCV infection.

Patients were exposed to these potentially deadly diseases because health-care personnel failed to follow basic infection control procedures and aseptic technique in injection safety. Reuse of syringes and blood-contamination of medications, equipment, and devices were identified as common factors in these outbreaks.

“More and more patients in the United States receive their health care in outpatient settings,” says Dr. Denise Cardo, director of CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion. “To protect patients, infection control training, professional oversight, licensing, innovative engineering controls, and public awareness are needed in these health care settings.”

CDC officials say the report shows the need for ongoing professional education for health care providers, as well as consistent state oversight in detecting and preventing the transmission of bloodborne pathogens in health care settings.

CDC assists local health departments by providing routine surveillance, outbreak investigation support, field personnel, and lab expertise. CDC also works with key partners to ensure adherence to proper infection control practices.

CDC and its partners are working to address this problem through a number of efforts, including:

• Improving viral hepatitis surveillance, case investigation, and outbreak response, such as support for health departments to thoroughly investigate all individuals identified to have HBV or HCV infection.
• Strengthening the capacity of state and local viral hepatitis prevention programs.
• Augmenting the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network, the national surveillance system for tracking health care-associated infections, to collect outpatient setting information.
• Partnering with the Hepatitis Outbreaks’ National Organization for Reform (HONOReform), a patient advocacy foundation, to create patient and provider education materials.
• Continued improvement of injection safety practices through educational outreach efforts with professional nursing and anesthesiology organizations.
• Working with partners in the dialysis, diabetes and long-term care communities to promote safe care practices.
• Working with regulators and professional societies to strengthen licensure and accreditation processes with emphasis on safe injection practices.
• Exploring ways to improve curricula in nursing and medical schools related to safe health care practices.

For more information on preventing viral hepatitis in health care settings, visit www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/Populations/HealthcareSettings.htm.

Source: CDC

Visit www.cdc.gov

JANUARY 6, 2009–WASHINGTON, DC–The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled a plan that establishes a set of five-year national prevention targets to reduce and possibly eliminate health care-associated infections (HAIs).

Health care-associated infections are those that patients acquire while undergoing medical treatment or surgical procedures. These infections are largely preventable.

The Action Plan to Prevent Health Care-Associated Infections lists a number of areas in which HAIs can be prevented, such as surgical site infections. The plan also outlines cross-agency efforts to save lives and reduce health care costs through expanded HAI prevention efforts.

“This plan will serve as our roadmap on how the department addresses this important public health and patient safety issue,” HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt says. “This collaborative interagency plan will help the nation build a safer, more affordable health care system.”

The plan establishes national goals and outlines key actions for enhancing and coordinating HHS-supported efforts. These include development of national benchmarks, prioritized recommended clinical practices, a coordinated research agenda, an integrated information systems strategy, and a national messaging plan.

The plan also identifies opportunities for collaboration with national, state, tribal, and local organizations.

HHS intends to update the plan in response to public input and new recommendations for infection prevention. The plan, and instructions for submitting comments on the plan, can be found online at www.hhs.gov/ophs.

In addition to the tremendous toll on human life, the financial burden attributed to these infections is staggering. HHS’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 1.7 million HAIs occurred in U.S. hospitals in 2002 and were associated with 99,000 deaths. CDC also estimates that HAIs add as much as $20 billion to health care costs each year.

HHS plans to hold meetings in the spring of 2009 to provide opportunities for public comment on improving and strengthening the plan and sharing opportunities for organizations to become engaged with implementing components of the plan that are consistent with their organizations’ missions. The dates for these meetings will be posted on the HHS Office of Public Health and Science Web site at www.hhs.gov/ophs.

Source: HHS

Visit www.hhs.gov

JANUARY 7, 2009–LEHIGH VALLEY, PA–Air Products and Showa Denko will extend their 10-year production joint venture (Showa Denko Air Products Co. Ltd.) for etch and chamber cleaning products such as tetrafluoromethane (CF₄) and hexafluoroethane (C₂F₆) by building a new production facility to manufacture hexafluoride butadiene (C₄F₆) in Kawasaki, Japan. The new C₄F₆ plant is expected to be completed in the first half of 2009.

CF₄ and C₂F₆ remain reliable and cost-competitive etch and chamber cleaning gases. Additionally, as logic and memory device manufacturing transitions to smaller geometries, higher-aspect-ratio dielectric etching will utilize more C₄F₆ because of its performance properties exhibits within state-of-the-art, high-density plasma etching processes. C₄F₆ typically provides higher selectivity and better etch profiles compared to other dielectric etch gases.

“Air Products is pleased to extend our relationship with Showa Denko for these important cleaning and etch gases,” says Corning Painter, vice president and general manager of electronics for Air Products. “In addition, Showa Denko Air Products recognizes the increased importance of materials like C₄F₆ for critical dimension etch and is excited to be building capacity to meet that demand. This investment, along with our existing patented purification and transfill investments, will help Air Products increase our security of supply and meet anticipated increases in end customer demand.”

Showa Denko Air Products (SDAP) was formed in 1996 to leverage Air Products’ fluorine-handling capabilities and Showa Denko’s technical and operating expertise in large-scale perfluorocarbon production facilities. In 1997, SDAP built a production facility for CF₄ and C₂F₆ in Kawasaki, Japan. Since that time, SDAP has expanded three times to more than double capacity at the plant. Air Products and Showa Denko recently agreed to extend their production joint venture for another five years.

Source: Air Products

Visit www.airproducts.com

DECEMBER 18, 2008–CAMARILLO, CA and PAVIA, ITALY–Microfiltration product manufacturer Meissner has opened a new branch office in Pavia, Italy: Meissner Filtration Products GmbH – Italia.

Meissner expects the office location in Pavia, Italy to help it better serve the European marketplace. This location will work in conjunction with the existing Meissner Filtration Products GmbH – Germany, which has been in operation for more than three years.

Meissner’s product lineup includes single-use biocontainer and fluid path assemblies, for the sterilization of drugs, reagents, and other critical biomanufacturing/pharmaceutical applications. The company also provides complete validation services, documentation, and customer support to optimize filtration systems for customers in the semiconductor, chemical, and food and beverage industries as well.

Source: Meissner

Visit www.meissner.com