Covidien Discontinuing Non-Sterile Alcohol Prep Pads

Covidien, a global provider of healthcare products, today announced the discontinuation of its non-sterile alcohol prep pad product line sold under the brand names Webcol and Curity, effective Feb. 1, 2012.  Covidien will continue to offer equivalent sterile products as a replacement for the discontinued non-sterile codes. 

Covidien continues to maintain outstanding quality and process controls in our alcohol prep manufacturing processes, says Jim Clemmer, president of Covidien Medical Supplies.  The recent discovery of Bacillus cereus in other manufacturers products, however, has led us to re-evaluate our non-sterile portfolio.  In an effort to reassure our customers and reduce any risk to patients, we have made the decision to discontinue these products.

Covidien has never recalled alcohol prep pads. The company produces more than 1 billion Webcol and Curity alcohol preps each year at its facility in Augusta, Ga.  Covidien is focused on innovative manufacturing processes and rigorous quality standards, which result in a consistently reliable product.  Over 10 different inspections, tests and quality controls are applied to each production lot. 

While an alcohol prep pad may seem like a small item in the medical supplies portfolio, it does have direct patient contact and direct patient consequences, Clemmer adds.  With our alcohol preps our customers know the manufacturer and trust the brand.  Covidien wound care products represent over a century of quality and innovation trusted by healthcare professionals around the world.