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According to the Annals of Emergency Medicine, stethoscopes carry diseasefrom one patient to another, spreading everything from the common cold and fluto life-threatening hospital "superbugs" such as MRSA and other staphinfections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that over100,000 people die from hospital infection each year-as many as car accidents,breast cancer and AIDS combined. Consumer Reports on Health (September 2007)recommends that hospital staff wash their hands and clean their stethoscopesbefore examination to help prevent the spread of hospital-acquired infectionslike MRSA or other dangerous "superbugs."
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"Microtek is proud to take the next step in raising the standard of carein hospitals and doctor's offices by bringing StethoClean to the market,"stated Dan R. Lee, Microtek Medical's President and CEO. "By limiting thespread of infection, controlling the cost of disease and limiting risks insidemedical facilities, we expect StethoClean will be embraced by patients andmedical professionals alike."
"As a Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgeon, I am acutely aware that any post-operative infections can be deadly," said Dr. Donald Buckley, a cardiovascularsurgeon based in Cincinnati, Ohio. "I believe that covering the stethoscopewill provide protection for both the patient and the healthcare worker.Doctors will use it because we care about our patients and it is the rightthing to do. Patients also will demand it. The time has arrived thatimplementation will become as universal as the use of disposable gloves.StethoClean is a much needed addition to the universal precautions that arenow utilized during patient care in the clinical care setting."
Jennifer Giroux, registered nurse and mother of nine, invented StethoCleanto protect her own children and patients from dirty stethoscopes. "I know howbusy doctors and nurses get, running from patient to patient," Girouxexplains. "There just isn't time to stop and wipe the stethoscope off betweeneach patient. I was concerned about where the stethoscope had been before itwas touching my own kids." Giroux, concerned about the spread of bacteria,viruses, germs and infectious disease by carriers of infection that touch thehealthy and sick alike, secured the patent for StethoClean in 2003 and pairedwith Microtek in 2005.
For more information about StethoClean, visit www.mystethoclean.com
To schedule and interview with Jennifer Giroux or Kurt Huelsman, MicrotekMedical Vice President, please contact Kelly Oliver (ext. 140) or MeganErhardt (ext. 136) at (703) 683 - 5004.
About Microtek Medical:
Microtek Medical is a leading manufacturer and supplier of innovativeproduct solutions for patient care, occupational safety and management ofinfectious and hazardous waste for the healthcare industry. Headquartered nearAtlanta, Georgia, the Company offers an extensive line of infection control,fluid control and safety products, such as disposable equipment and patientdrapes, which are marketed to healthcare professionals through multiplechannels, including direct sales, original equipment manufacturers ("OEM's")and private label arrangements. Microtek Medical's goal is to providehealthcare professionals with innovative product solutions that encompass ahigh-level of patient care and prevention of cross infection in operatingrooms and ambulatory surgical centers
