SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.,
Jan. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ICU
Medical Inc. (NASDAQ: ICUI) today announced that a new study
published in the December 2015 issue
of the peer-reviewed journal Infection Control &
Hospital Epidemiology showed that the company's SwabCap®
disinfecting cap for needlefree connectors reduced central
line–associated bloodstream infections (HA-CLABSI) and blood
culture contamination (BCC) among hematology-oncology
patients.1 The study by clinicians at New York City's Memorial Sloan Kettering
Cancer Center found that the reduction in HA-CLABSI and BCC using
of SwabCap "corresponded to an annual savings of $3.2 million in direct medical costs."
Memorial Sloan Kettering's Mini
Kamboj, MD, et al conducted a multiphase prospective study with two
preintervention phases in which use of the SwabCap disinfecting cap
resulted in a 34% decrease in hospital-wide HA-CLABSI rates and a
63% and 51% reduction in BCCs in high-risk units and general
oncology units respectively. Based on their study findings with the
SwabCap product, researchers concluded that the use of the product
was "a practical and low-cost intervention for catheter care."
"Our study provides evidence on the efficacy of disinfection
caps in reducing HA-CLABSI rates among high-risk cancer patients
and promotes a hospital-wide reduction in contamination among blood
cultures," the researchers said. "Because of the improved clinical
outcomes and substantial cost savings associated with use of CVC
disinfection caps, we recommend routine use of this device in
hematology–oncology practices."
In commenting on the study in the January
8, 2016 New England Journal of Medicine Journal
Watch, deputy editor Richard T.
Ellison III, MD said that "the use of these devices appears
to carry no apparent risk, and the cost savings in reducing the
rates of CLABSIs and contaminated blood cultures could markedly
outweigh the added cost of these devices in most
institutions."2
ICU Medical acquired the Excelsior Medical SwabCap disinfecting
cap from RoundTable Health Partners in October 2015 as a complement to its complete line
of needlefree IV connectors and specialty infusion products.
"ICU Medical has always been deeply focused on safety for both
the patient and the clinician in the infusion therapy category. The
SwabCap used in conjunction with our Clave® family of
needlefree connectors, offers a best in class solution for
clinicians," said Alison Burcar,
Vice President and General Manager of ICU Medical's Infusion
Systems Division.
1 Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol.
2015;36(12) :1401–1408
2
http://www.jwatch.org/na40059/2016/01/08/how-effective-are-iv-catheter-disinfection-caps
Contact: Tom McCall
949-366-4368
tmccall@icumed.com
About ICU Medical, Inc.: ICU Medical, Inc.
develops, manufactures and sells innovative medical devices used in
vascular therapy, oncology and critical care applications. ICU
Medical's products improve patient outcomes by helping prevent
bloodstream infections and protecting healthcare workers from
exposure to infectious diseases or hazardous drugs. The company's
complete product line includes custom IV systems, closed delivery
systems for hazardous drugs, needlefree IV connectors, catheters
and cardiac monitoring systems. ICU Medical is headquartered in
San Clemente,
California. More information about ICU Medical, Inc. can be
found at www.icumed.com.
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SOURCE ICU Medical, Inc.