News
Infectious Disease Specialists See Increase in Babesiosis Cases in Lower Hudson Valley
Babesiosis, a rare and occasionally fatal tick-borne disease caused by microscopic parasites known as Babesia which infect red blood cells, is on the rise in the Lower Hudson Valley according to the NYS DOH, including the counties of Westchester, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan and Rockland.
Babesiosis is a malaria-like disease most commonly transmitted by infected deer ticks. It is transmitted in the same way as Lyme disease and Ehrlichiosis and may occur in conjunction with these other diseases. It can also be transmitted by blood transfusions.
Medline Shines Spotlight on Evidence-Based Cauti Prevention Practices and Products
Looking to support guidelines from APIC, SHEA, CDC and the Joint
Commission for preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections
(CAUTI), Medline Industries, Inc. will be showcasing its evidence-based
ERASE CAUTI program and urological products at the upcoming Association
for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) Annual
Scientific Meeting in New Orleans, LA, July 12.
CAUTI is one of the most common healthcare-associated infections, not
only comprising 40 percent of all institutionally acquired
Governor Rendell Releases Report Showing Improvements in Healthcare-Associated Infections
Pennsylvania's ongoing efforts to protect patients from unnecessary infections in healthcare settings are bringing measurable results, Governor Edward G. Rendell said today as he released a report showing marked improvements in the number of healthcare-associated infections, or HAIs, reported by hospitals.
From 2008 to 2009, there was a 12.5 percent decrease in HAIs, which are infections that patients acquired while in a healthcare setting and were not present when they were admitted for care.
Smart Glove and Henry Schein Reach Settlement With Tillotson Regarding Patent for Nitrile Gloves
Tillotson Corp. today announced that Smart Glove and Henry Schein have settled their litigation with Tillotson regarding Tillotson's U.S. patent for disposable Nitrile Gloves. The settlement allows Smart Glove and Henry Schein sales of gloves made with Tillotson's patent and protects the US customers of Smart Glove and Henry Schein who bought them.
"We are very pleased to have resolved our dispute with Smart Glove and Henry Schein," said Tillotson Vice President Rick Tillotson. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Contec Launches New Sporicidin Website
Contec, Inc., a leading cleanroom supply company and the parent company of Sporicidin Brand Disinfectants, has unveiled a new website for Sporicidin. Divided into 4 main industry categories: Cleaning & Restoration, Air Ducts & IAQ, Hospital & Medical Infection Control, and Dental, the site is packed with product information, technical bulletins, articles related to infection control and proper disinfecting techniques, material safety data sheets, and other collateral.
FDA Obtains Consent Decree to Stop Marketing of Unapproved Sterilization System
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced that a consent decree has been filed against the device manufacturer, STERIS Corp. of Mentor, Ohio. The decree stops the company from distributing unapproved and misbranded devices used to sterilize heat-sensitive instruments and medical devices. It prohibits the distribution of the STERIS System 1 Processor, or SS1, a tabletop liquid chemical system marketed to disinfect certain devices, such as endoscopes, that cannot withstand steam sterilization.
Hospital Estimates 30% Savings With Vendor Supply Agreement With Medline
Medline Industries, Inc., the nation's largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare supplies, announced today the signing of a cost management prime vendor agreement with Hannibal Regional Hospital based in Hannibal, MO. The three-year agreement is anticipated to save the hospital an estimated $300,000 over the term of the contract.
Medline Introduces First Biodegradable Surgical Drape
In response to a growing trend in the healthcare industry to reduce waste and establish environmentally responsible healthcare, Medline Industries, Inc. today introduced the industry's first biodegradable surgical drape made almost entirely from renewable sources. Following more than two years in development, the "EcoDrape™" is 96% biodegradable and meets the Association for Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) level 4 protection standards in the critical areas.
Emmy Award-Winning Dr. Bob Arnot Embraces Breakthrough Disinfectant
BioTech Medical, LLC announced today that it has engaged celebrity physician Dr. Bob Arnot to act as Chief Medical Educator for its breakthrough disinfectant, SpectraSan 24. Based on a patented silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC) molecule, SpectraSan 24 can be used to kill dangerous germs on hard surfaces in a wide variety of settings including hospitals, medical and dental offices, child care facilities, cruise ships, sports facilities, homes and more.
Sharps Compliance Inc. Repurposes Medical Waste Into New Products
Sharps Compliance Inc., has unveiled the first of its kind, patent-pending GREEN Waste Conversion ProcessTM, eliminating medical waste going into landfills by 100%. The process transforms discarded medical waste into a new product called PELLA-DRXTM - a clean, raw material used in the manufacture of industrial resources, vital to everything from highways to high-rise buildings. The disposal of medical waste has presented major, interrelated concerns for American society as the vast majority of medical waste is ultimately disposed in landfills, creating massive liabilities for future generations to resolve.