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Ethicon introduces new packaging for
Biopatch to improve ease of application for patients with catheters
Ethicon, Inc, a Johnson & Johnson Company, announced that
Biopatch Protective Disk with CHG (chlorhexidine gluconate) will include new
design elements and updated packaging to make it easier for surgeons, nurses and
other healthcare providers to apply the product correctly around catheters to
reduce the risk of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs).
Distribution of Biopatch with the enhanced design and packaging began on August
10, 2009 and the product will be available nationwide by mid-August.
Biopatch is placed directly on the skin at the point of
catheter insertion and provides seven days of continuous active antisepsis. In a
clinical study, the use of Biopatch was associated with a 76 per cent reduction
in CRBSI. Published practice standards as outlined by key healthcare
organizations - SHEA, ISDA, AHA, APIC and the Joint Commission - include using a
'clorhexidine-containing sponge dressing' as a strategy for reducing CRBSIs.
Biopatch is the only product of its kind with an FDA-cleared indication to
reduce CRBSI.
The enhanced design and packaging for Biopatch includes
easy-to-follow instructions and clearly marked 'up' arrows to signify correct
application with respect to skin orientation of the product. This new design is
intended to provide clear and immediate guidance on the application of Biopatch
with each use. In addition, Biopatch packaging now features color-coded elements
designed to instantly identify the size and center-hole diameter of the product.
"Proper application of a medical device is essential for
maximizing efficacy," said Leigh Ann Bowe-Geddes, BS, RN, CRNI, a vascular
access specialist at the University of Louisville Hospital in Louisville. "The
new design of Biopatch helps ensure that this technology is used properly, which
helps protect patients in the fight against infection."
In the US, approximately 80,000 central venous CRBSIs are
estimated to occur each year in ICU patients. CRBSIs are associated with
extended hospital stays, requiring an estimated nine to 12 additional days in
hospital. According to the CDC, the cost of treating a CRBSI can range from
$34,508 - $56,000. The average cost of the Biopatch product is approximately $6.
The safety and effectiveness of Biopatch have not been
established for children less than 16 years of age. The protective disk is not
to be used on premature infants or on patients with a known sensitivity to CHG.
Biopatch is marketed by Ethicon, Inc, a Johnson & Johnson
company. Ethicon continues Johnson & Johnson's 100-year commitment to wound care
today with innovative products for general surgery, wound management, women's
health and urology, aesthetic medicine and wound closure.
(Ref: The Chronicle Pharmabiz dated August 13, 2009).
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