New Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) Guidelines Include Agion Antimicrobial-Treated Catheters

Agion-treated catheters among recommended strategies to control central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI)

WAKEFIELD, Massachusetts, September 3, 2014 – Use of catheters containing the Agion® antimicrobial is among the recommended strategies to control central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) according to the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA).

An expert guidance document published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology in July 2014 and sponsored by SHEA1 provides best evidence practices for the prevention of central-line associated bloodstream infections. As part of the 2014 updates, the authors recommend the use of “silver zeolite–impregnated umbilical catheters in preterm infants,” based on the 2012 study by Bertini2 on the “Reduction of catheter-related bloodstream infections in preterm infants by the use of catheters with the Agion Antimicrobial System.”

“SHEA’s recommendations should encourage more hospitals to expand the use of antimicrobial device technologies available to prevent central-line associated bloodstream infections, when the basic CLABSI prevention strategies fail to lower infection rates to acceptable levels,” said Paul C. Ford, chief executive officer of Sciessent. “Studies that prove the safety and efficacy of these antimicrobial protected devices provide the foundation for the SHEA expert guidance, and implementation will lead to better care and outcomes in terms of CLABSI prevention.”

The SHEA guidelines also recommend the use of “antimicrobial-impregnated central venous catheters (CVCs) in adult patients” to prevent CLABSI. Both recommendations highlighted by SHEA are among the special approaches currently available for use “in locations and/or populations within the hospital with unacceptably high CLABSI rates.”

The Agion® Antimicrobial is presently registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as a preservative and bacteriostatic agent for use in treated articles under 40 CFR 152.25a. The information presented herein is not intended to support or endorse public health claims for treated articles. The Agion Antimicrobial is also used in medical devices under the Food and Drug Administration; those medical device claims are based on safety and efficacy testing and are limited to those approved by FDA.

^{1 “Strategies to Prevent Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in Acute Care Hospitals: 2014 Update”published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology (ICHE), July 2014, vol. 35, no. 7}

^{2 Bertini G, Elia S, Ceciarini F, Dani C. Reduction of catheter-related bloodstream infections in preterm infants by the use of catheters with the AgION antimicrobial system. Early Hum Dev 2013;89(1):21–25.}

About Sciessent
Sciessent is a leading provider of customized antimicrobial solutions that enhance the value of customers’ products. Agion antimicrobial solutions from Sciessent have been incorporated into a wide range of healthcare, industrial, and consumer applications, including medical devices such as central venous catheters and IV access ports, drinking water applications like water filters and ice making equipment, and textiles and apparel. The Company’s brands include Agion, Agion Active and Sciessent Lava and are based on naturally occurring elements. Sciessent customers include leading international brands Vygon, Medegen, Scotsman, Everpure, Follett, Honeywell, UnderArmour, Adidas, Reebok, and Skechers.

For more information, please visit www.sciessent.com.