Kimberly-Clark PPE Dispensing System Designed to Promote Infection Control Compliance

ROSWELL, Ga. -- In an effort to help prevent healthcare-associated infections by promoting compliant infection control practices, Kimberly-Clark announces today the launch of a system that makes it simple and convenient for caregivers to sanitize hands and change personal protective equipment (PPE) between patients and in accordance with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines.

The ergonomically designed KIMBERLY-CLARK* PPE Dispensing System makes infection control products readily accessible and features easy-to-follow icons that promote hand sanitization and proper techniques for donning gowns, gloves and masks. The slim, portable system includes a dispensing unit and module space for storage. Both modules can be used together as a free-standing system, or the dispensing unit can be detached and mounted on a wall.

The KIMBERLY-CLARK* PPE Dispensing System is designed to hold:

Gowns (Recommended: CONTROL* Cover Gowns)

Procedure masks (Recommended: KIMBERLY-CLARK* Procedure Masks)

Visor masks (Recommended: KIMBERLY-CLARK* FLUIDSHIELD* Visor Masks)

Exam gloves (Recommended: STERLING* Nitrile, PURPLE NITRILE*)

Hand Sanitizer (Recommended: KIMCARE* ALL-N-1 Hand Sanitizer)

In addition, the KIMBERLY-CLARK* PPE Dispensing System features a proprietary dispensing arrangement that helps to prevent contamination during the selection and donning process. Gloves and procedure masks are dispensed using a spring-assisted mechanism that, when combined with distinctly configured box openings, eliminates the need to reach into boxes. Similarly, visor masks are dispensed mask first so that visors stay virtually finger-print free, and exam gloves are dispensed cuff first, which makes donning faster and easier and helps to prevent contamination of the glove surface.

In the fight to prevent healthcare-associated infections, every action counts, said Kimberly-Clark vice president of global sales and marketing, John Amat. Infection can be prevented by following relatively simple steps; however, it wont occur without compliance each and every time a caregiver comes into contact with a patient. By making essential PPE available in an easy-to-use, all-in-one dispenser designed with the CDCs recommendations in mind, we hope to make compliance easier and give caregivers on the front lines one less worry.

The CDC recommends that caregivers sanitize their hands and don fresh PPE in a certain sequence before seeing each patient :

Step 1 Sanitize hands

Step 2 Don gown

Step 3 Don mask

Step 4 Don gloves

According to a 2005 survey by Kimberly-Clark of infection control practitioners and materials managers, 87 percent of respondents indicated that the system would be an improvement over current dispensing and selection methods within their facilities, and 70 percent agreed that it would help improve compliance with infection control practices.

The system is priced under $1,000 and will be available for purchase in October. For more information, visit www.kchealthcare.com/ppe.

Source: Kimberly-Clark

Reference: Guidance for the Selection and Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Healthcare Settings. CDC, Dec. 2, 2005.