|Articles|February 1, 2004

Infection Control Today - 02/2004: TOOLS & TECHNOLOGY

SARGENT Manufacturing

SARGENT Manufacturing introduces SARGuard antimicrobialfinish for its architectural hardware, employing a proprietary compound ofsilver ions produced by AgION Technologies. This non-toxic material is approvedby the EPA and is FDA and NSF listed. It permanently suppresses the growth ofbacteria, fungus, mold and mildew. SARGuard is ideal for hospitals, schools,assisted living facilities anywhere there is concern about bacterial spread. SARGuard is available on all SARGENT product lines.

(800) 727-5477 or www.sargentlock.com

Bemis

Bemis introduces the SharpSentinel® Wall Cabinet system toits sharps container line. Available in 5-quart and 3-gallon sizes, these cabinets areideal for patient rooms, exam rooms, physician and dentist offices and any otherareas where staff supervision is limited. The cabinets neutral color blendswith any decor and the tinted door obscures contents, yet allows easy visibilityof fill level. Made of tough ABS plastic, theyre durable, easy to clean, andstain resistant. All cabinets are keyed alike for added convenience. Optionalglove box holder snaps onto bottom of cabinets.

(800) 558-7651 or www.bemismfg.com

Medline Industries, Inc.

Aloetouch Ease®, a glove coated on the inside with naturalaloe vera gel, is now available in an anatomically correct fitting version. Madefrom premium, low protein latex, Aloetouch Ease is powder-free and manufacturedin a similar process to surgical gloves, which enables the thumb to be placedaccording to the natural configuration of the hand. The glove features atextured finish on the palm and fingers to enhance gripping. Aloetouch glovesare also available in a latex-free, synthetic style and in a powderfree nitrileline.

(800) MEDLINE or www.medline.com

Cardinal Health Inc.

Cardinal Health introduces the Neu-Thera formulation in itsleading line of Esteem synthetic examination and surgical gloves. Theemollient improves skin health and protects hands from irritation. Esteemsurgical gloves are made of polyisoprene, which is known for its strength andbarrier properties, elasticity and softness. Esteem examination gloves are madefrom nitrile. In addition, Cardinal Health has a more complete line of latex andsynthetic examination gloves to meet the needs of healthcare professionals inthe lab, physicians office, hospital and other health-care settings.

(800) 234-8701 or www.cardinal.com

Shepard Medical Products

The CareMates Antiseptic Instant Hand Sanitizer is aninstant, waterless alternative to hand washing with soap and water, destroyinggerms and bacteria commonly associated with disease and infection. The additionof aloe moisturizing ingredients keeps hands moist, preventing dry and crackedskin. The hand sanitizer is available in eight- and 16-ounce bottlesas well as a 1,000mm pouch with wall-mounted dispenser.

(800) 354-5683 or www.shepard-medical.com

MPS Acacia

The Smart SafetyHuber Needle infusion set is designed toeliminate accidental needlestick injuries, particularly rebound injuries duringremoval from subcutaneously implanted ports. Its safety mechanism deploys a sheath that covers the needlewhen de-accessing it from the implanted port. An audible click provides theclinician with confirmation that the safety feature has been activated. Otherdesign features include one-hand usage, push button activation, secure easy gripand integrated comfort pad. The device is offered with a wide-range of needlegauges, lengths and needleless Y-sites.

(800) 299-4849 or www.mpsacacia.com


Related to this article

A group of students raising their hands in class during a lecture  (Adobe Stock 292282454 by Mediteraneo
How do you celebrate an infection that never happened? That's one of the unusual challenges infection preventionists share with teachers. Both can spend their careers changing outcomes they may never see. Both educate people who don't always want to listen. Both are second-guessed. Both face burnout. And both must somehow keep remembering why they started.
Infection preventionists in full PPE with children in DRC.  (Image credit: author with AI)
Nearly 4 months into the DRC's Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak, some indicators suggest transmission may be slowing. But shifting hotspots, treatment-center capacity problems, community deaths, and incomplete surveillance data show why national case totals alone cannot determine whether containment has been achieved.
Health care workers from the US speaking with other health care workers in DRC.  (Image credit: author with AI)
Is the Ebola outbreak in the DRC getting better? The answer depends on which numbers you examine. Several important indicators are moving in the right direction, including slower case growth and a declining Rₜ. But major gaps remain in contact tracing, testing, community deaths, safe burial coverage, and treatment capacity in some of the hardest-hit areas. ICT takes a deeper look at the latest outbreak data and why the numbers suggest cautious optimism, not victory.
Dyan Troxell, MSN, RN, director of clinical education at HandCraft Linen Services; J.J. Odom, MBA, CHESP, CMIP, T-CHEST, university director of buildings and grounds for UConn Health and chair-elect of the AHE Board; and Jenna Rivers, MPH, CPH, CIC, manager of infection prevention and control at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida.
At AHE Exchange 2026, ICT spoke with experts representing commercial laundry services, EVS, and infection prevention about the systems behind a successful reusable linen program. They discuss linen quality, reject rates, unnecessary waste, frontline education, data, PAR levels, infection prevention oversight, and why strong relationships between health care facilities and their laundry providers matter.
Bug of the Month
The Bug of the Month helps educate readers about existing and emerging pathogens that are clinically important in today's health care facilities. This month’s Bug of the Month isn’t quite like anything we’ve featured before. Can you solve the clues before the final reveal?