Poll Shows Hospitals Reducing Serious Hospital-Acquired Infection; Oral Care Important, Protects against Risk of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

Business Wire, August 30, 2005

CARY, Ill. -- A recent opinion poll showed that hospitals are taking steps to monitor and reduce the second most common hospital-acquired infection in the United States - ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Results showed that an overwhelming 85 percent of infection control practitioners who responded indicated that their hospital actively tracks VAP incidence and 80 percent of respondents said that oral hygiene is important to helping to prevent VAP. The poll was conducted by Sage Products Inc. at the Association for Practitioners of Infection Control and Epidemiology Conference June 19-23.

"There is an increased focus on national quality improvement, stirred by programs such as the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's 100K Lives Campaign," said Scott Brown, senior vice president, Sage Products, Inc. "Efforts to reduce VAP and other hospital-acquired infections are increasing in priority."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System (NNIS) databases, VAP is a common hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia that has a mortality rate of 20 to 33 percent and accounts for 60 percent of all deaths due to hospital-associated infections. Additionally, treatment of one incidence of VAP costs a hospital up to $40,000. Routine oral care, among other interventions, can help protect critical care patients against VAP risk.

"Ventilator-associated pneumonia is one of the most prevalent hospital-acquired infections, and it is 100 percent preventable," said Pamela Meyer, R.N., manager of critical care at Sherman Hospital in Elgin, Ill. "Oral care helped our hospital to reduce VAP rates and avoid $1.6 million in VAP-related costs."

When asked about oral care efforts, 69 percent of respondents indicated their facility implemented an oral hygiene protocol to address VAP. Of the respondent's whose facility had an oral hygiene protocol in place, 83 percent indicated that oral care tools, such as brushes, swabs and suction devices, are an integral part of their oral hygiene program. Additionally, 36 percent of respondents indicated that their facility's VAP rate has decreased over the past year.

About Sage Products Inc.

Since 1971, Sage Products has developed innovative, disposable healthcare products trusted by healthcare professionals worldwide. The company has a core belief in prevention--that evidence-based interventions will lead to improved outcomes. Sage is pioneering the drive toward Interventional Patient Hygiene with its industry-leading Toothette(R) oral care and Comfort Personal Cleansing(R) skin care brands. These advanced hygiene products make it easier for busy nurses to deliver essential patient care. Sage's ultimate goal is to help clinicians improve patient safety and outcomes by addressing risk factors for skin breakdown and healthcare-associated pneumonias. For more information about Sage Products, visit the company's website at www.sageproducts.com.