April's News

3M Health Care

3M Health Care recently launched its newest infection prevention product, 3M Tegaderm CHG (chlorhexidine gluconate) IV Securement Dressing. This transparent antimicrobial dressing is used to cover and protect catheter sites and to secure devices to skin.

Tegaderm CHG consists of a transparent adhesive dressing and an integrated gel pad that contains the antiseptic agent chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG). 3M testing in healthy volunteers has shown that Tegaderm CHG reduces the amount of skin flora under the dressing and prevents regrowth. 3M in vitro testing shows CHG is a barrier to a wide variety of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and yeast, including a majority of pathogens.

(800) 228-3957

www.3m.com/tegadermchg

AirInSpace

AirInSpace, a supplier of mobile devices that capture and inactivate harmful and resistant biological particles from the air, announced recently that it has received FDA clearance to market its PlasmairT2006 by AirInSpace mobile system as a medical device. The same technology that has been protecting astronauts against particulates and microbes aboard the International Space Station since 2000 is now protecting a growing number of hospitals.

AirInSpace offers an innovative range of products for microbial decontamination of air in hospitals and other environments.

(703) 621-0671

www.airinspace.com

Component Hardware Group

Component Hardware Group (CHG), a manufacturer and distributor of plumbing and specialty hardware components for the healthcare, foodservice, institutional and commercial markets, has introduced a 64-ounce antimicrobial ice scoop to its product line. The scoop is designed to cut down on the risk of ice bin cross-contamination and can be used as a dry measure scoop.

The ice scoop features SANIGUARD antimicrobial technology, which inhibits the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew and has a molded hand guard to prevent hand contact with the ice. SANIGUARD is a cost-effective, inorganic antimicrobial treatment that uses a silver ion-based technology to retard the growth of bacteria and odor-causing mold and mildew on treated surfaces.

(877) SANIGUARD

www.saniguard-online.com

Aethon

Aethons hospital asset management solution consists of HOMER (a robotic RFID-based tracking system) and TUG (a robotic delivery and recovery system in use at more than 100 U.S. hospitals). Combined, the Aethon asset solution improves staff efficiency and satisfaction, increases asset utilization, decreases equipment rentals and improves adherence to infection control and other procedures. The affordable HOMER system employs a single mobile antenna and reads any RFID tag. Aethon engineers provide installation, integration, training and support.

(412) 322-2975

www.aethon.com

Breakthrough Learning

The Friday Night at the ER team-learning tool is a board game that is played at tables of four players and teaches people to consider the effects of their decisions on the larger system. It is for any group members that must work together to improve performance, and can be used by teams that have 4-200 people.

The game simulates the challenge of managing a hospital during a typical 24-hour period. Players perform distinct functions, but they end up realizing that they also depend on each other. They experience work flow and decision making in a virtual world in which space is compressed and time is accelerated so that the consequences of decisions can be observed.

(408) 779-0701

www.fridaynightattheer.com

Abaxis

The Piccolo xpress is a compact, lab-accurate chemistry analyzer designed to provide critical diagnostic results at the point of care in about 12 minutes. The easy-to-use system features 13 multi-chemistry reagent panels. With just three simple steps, 0.1 cc of whole blood and 30 seconds of hands-on time, professionals can confidently diagnose their patients with accurate chemistry results.

(800) 822-2947, option 3

www.abaxis.com/medical

Byotrol Inc.

Byotrol Inc. is launching a line of professional cleaning products developed to reduce the use of harmful and corrosive chemicals, as well as saving cost by reducing the frequency of cleaning required (without compromising hygiene or safety). Marketed under the brand name Professional Stay Byotrol Clean, the new line features an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved disinfectant, Polysphere, which is a food-grade sanitizer, virucide, mildewstat and deodorizer with organic soil tolerance. Polysphere is designed to be effective against a broad range of organisms such as MRSA, VRE and HIV-1. Polysphere also is designed to create an invisible barrier of protection following application, so surfaces stay clean for a longer time. The product does not contain corrosive chemicals so it will not damage surfaces. Polysphere is available in one- or five-gallon concentrate containers. Microcleanse, which harnesses the polymer technology in Polysphere, has been developed as a cleaner and deodorizer and is ideal for removing stains and odors caused by mold, mildew and algae. This product is available in one- and five-gallon concentrate containers as well as a one-gallon ready-to-use format.

(864) 278-8017

www.byotrol.com/usa-epa-reg.html

MAY 2008

3-7
International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM) annual meeting
Reno, Nev.
www.iahcsmm.org

16-21
Society of Gastroenterology Nurses & Associates (SGNA) annual meeting
Salt Lake City
www.sgna.org

29-June 5
Community and Hospital Infection Control Association Canada (CHICA) annual meeting
Palais des Congres
Montreal, Canada
www.chica.org

JUNE 2008

15-19
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) annual meeting
Colorado Convention Center
Denver
www.apic.org 

AUGUST 2008

11-15
EPI 101 and 201 courses
San Francisco
www.apic.org 

13-14
EPI 202 course
San Francisco
www.apic.org 

SEPTEMBER 2008

7-11
American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services (ASHES) annual meeting
San Antonio, Texas
www.ashes.org