The World’s First Forum for Advanced Infection Prevention Provided by Nonwovens

EDANA pioneers the first ever conference dedicated to the issue of infection prevention and the solutions that the nonwovens industry can bring. Taking place in Prague on Monday, 20th to Tuesday, 21st March 2006, this global conference, IN CONTROL!, is supported by healthcare institutions, associations and industry.

(PRWEB) December 14, 2005 -- EDANA pioneers the first ever conference dedicated to the issue of infection prevention and the solutions that the nonwovens industry can bring. Taking place in Prague on Monday, 20th to Tuesday, 21st March 2006, this global conference is supported by healthcare institutions, associations and industry.

The last 25 years have brought new diseases to the world, including HIV Aids, SARS and, the latest, avian flu. Globalisation of trade and travel has increased the spread of new diseases. In addition to this, about 10% of patients in European hospitals at any one time will be suffering from a Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) or MRSA. These infections cause significant morbidity and mortality and there are of course considerable socio-economic implications too.

IN CONTROL!, which will take place in the Andel’s Hotel in Prague, is dedicated to the issue of global infection prevention and the critical role of nonwovens in providing effective protection solutions for patients and hospital staff alike.

The Conference programme includes 16 papers from authoritative healthcare professionals and top-level industry speakers, including the WHO (World Health Organisation), EORNA (European Operating Room Nurses Association), Eucomed (European Medical Technology Association), companies manufacturing single-use nonwoven medical devices and suppliers of nonwoven roll goods.

Themes covered will include:
The importance of infection prevention
- Infection control - Past----Present----Future
- Educating policy makers, influencers and the public
- The costs of NOT controlling infection
The critical role of nonwovens
- Single-use gowns and drapes - Safety of the patient & staff
- Keeping microbes at bay
- Nonwoven technologies for microbiological barriers

Worldwide and regional perspectives
- WHO’s fight against global pandemics
- Healthcare associated infection in Europe
- Asia: protecting the public from SARS and avian flu
- Public health in the Baltic States

The consequences of European standards
- EN 13795 – what does it mean?
- US Standard ANSI/AAMI PB70

The end-user
- What does industry need to learn from the end-users?
- The role of the operating department
- EORNA – the voice of the perioperative nurse

Microbial protection
- Sterilisation and packaging
- Risk management

The complete programme of IN CONTROL! is on EDANA’s medical nonwovens website www.medeco.edana.org and on www.edana.org.

The aim of this conference is to preserve and improve the quality of the healthcare services our society has come to expect by:
- Putting the safety of patients first
- Raising awareness of the importance of preventing infection and the vital role of the medical nonwovens industry in protecting the patient and the healthcare professional.
- Providing a forum for the exchange of information for all interested parties to focus on key economic, environmental and health issues.
- Promoting the value and need for single-patient medical nonwovens by providing general and technical educational opportunities to both end-users and producers.

IN CONTROL!, which will also include a table top display area, will attract delegates from the global medical nonwovens supply chain and will present a unique opportunity to meet top experts with hands-on experience in the field.
Delegates will include:
- Healthcare & hygiene professionals
- Hospital Management staff
- Converters of medical nonwovens
- Manufacturers of protection apparel
- Raw materials suppliers and machinery manufacturers

Other events scheduled by EDANA in 2006 include: the return of the Nonwovens Research Academy following its successful launch at INDEX 05 (20-21 April 2006, Tourcoing (Lille) France), the Annual International Nonwovens Symposium (7-8 June 2006, Vienna, Austria), the fifth edition of OUTLOOK Personal Care Conference (dates and Mediterranean location to be announced shortly) and the second edition of FILTREX, filtration conference and exhibition (24-25 October 2006, Munich, Germany).

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