HEALTHPOINT Says Triseptin is the Only Alcohol-Based Brush-Free Surgical Scrub to Meet New CDC Guidelines for Surgical Scrubbing in a Single Product

FORT WORTH, Texas -- With the release of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s new guidelines for surgical hand antisepsis with alcohol-based solutions, a Texas company has pumped up production of its popular Triseptin, the alcohol-based surgical scrub that fulfills the CDC recommendations for surgical scrubbing in just one product.

In a report titled "Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings," released last week by the CDC, the task force recommends that alcohol-based hand products used as surgical scrubs should contain an ingredient to provide persistent activity (Part II.3.C. p.33). Also, nurses and surgeons should prewash with a non- antimicrobial soap (i.e. surfactants) and water (Part II.3.E., p.33).

Under these guidelines, HEALTHPOINT's Triseptin, the first brush-free alcohol surgical scrub on the market in the United States, is the only alcohol-based solution that has the recommended prolonged antimicrobial action (i.e. persistent activity) as well as surfactants to remove dirt and organic debris in one product -- thus eliminating the need for additional prewash products.

Also according to the report, there is an important distinction between traditional waterless alcohol hand gels and foams that are appropriate for use by healthcare practitioners on wards between routine patient contact and a product suitable in the operating room as a surgical scrub. Many alcohol- based hand gels are not suitable as a surgical scrub due to lack of demonstrated persistent activity according to this report.

Significantly, for alcohol solutions used as surgical scrubs, the added prewash recommendation adds another step in the "waterless" process. According to the guidelines, when using alcohol solutions as surgical scrubs, nurses and surgeons should now add an additional prewash soap.

"These guidelines were very much needed in the OR," said Lawton Seal, PhD, SM (AAM), senior research and development program manager of infection prevention at HEALTHPOINT. "The recommendations express the importance of persistence and a prewash to remove dirt and transient microorganisms before every surgical procedure when using alcohol-based surgical scrub solutions. Currently, in my opinion, Triseptin is the only surgical hand scrub that meets all of the CDC's recommendations in one product by incorporating the recommended prewash into its product application.

"Taking only 3 minutes, Triseptin will save valuable time in the OR -- and faster application times should mean greater staff compliance," said Seal. "And greater compliance yields superior outcomes for patients by lowering the risk of hospital-acquired infections as well as saving healthcare dollars."

Currently, Triseptin is used in more than 1,000 healthcare facilities and has 50,000 surgical users daily.

"The CDC's guidelines fortify Triseptin's position as the premiere alcohol-based product in surgical scrubbing today," said Shawn Gentry, marketing director for HEALTHPOINT's Infection Prevention Division. "It's the brush-free scrub that provides the prewash application and the product simultaneously."

Since its inception in 1992, HEALTHPOINT has established a strong domestic U.S. presence in the research, development, and marketing of branded pharmaceuticals, over the counter drugs, and medical devices for infection prevention, tissue management, and dermatology. The company's aggressive research and development efforts have taken unique technologies to the market, setting the pace for a highly trained field sales organization that is expanding across North America and beyond.

Source: PRNewswire