Results from 2007 Infection Control Survey Sponsored by B. Braun Indicate Nurses are Knowledgeable About Infection Control Best Practices

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- B. Braun, a leader in infusion therapy products and services, and sponsor of the Nursing 2007 Infection Control Survey Report, said the survey revealed that a majority of nurses are knowledgeable about infection control, but there are opportunities for improvements.

While a majority of nurses who participated in the survey are aware of best practices, the results suggest that there is room and a need for continuing education about devices and institutional support of reporting. Key findings include: most respondents (75 percent) knew that in general passive devices are safer than devices the nurse must activate during use. An overwhelming number (96 percent) also said they routinely clean the IV access injection port prior to access, a practice the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) gives its highest recommendation: 1A.

Tom Sutton, director of marketing, vascular access, said B. Brauns history is rooted in developing innovative products to enhance patient and healthcare worker safety. The CDC estimates that in hospitals alone there are 2 million health-associated infections that cause 90,000 deaths and cost $4.5 billion in excess healthcare costs annually. Our enhanced Introcan Safety® IV Catheter, which will be launched at APIC 2007, SURECAN® Safety Huber Needle, and ULTRASITE® Needle-Free IV System are devices that will help lower those numbers and keep workers and patients safe.

Source: B. Braun