“Top Ten” Study Validating the Trinity Guardion Patient Protection System™ presented at APIC 2016
Batesville, Indiana (PRWEB) June 28, 2016 -- A study published in the December 2015 issue of the American Journal of Infection Control was featured at APIC 2016 as one of the ten most important studies for infection preventionists. The clinical trial, titled, Decreasing Clostridium difficile heathcare associated infections through use of a launderable mattress cover showed that during a 14-month trial period, the use of a launderable barrier bed cover reduced the rate of hospital-acquired infections such as Clostridium difficile (C. diff) by 50 percent.
The APIC reviewers, Laurie Conway, RN, MPh, CIC, and Heather Gilmartin, PhD, NP, CIC, read thousands of peer-reviewed articles to narrow down the most impactful and relevant studies for APIC’s infection preventionist membership. Their primary criterion was to identify the ten studies that provided “information that could translate to the clinical setting.”
By presenting this Xavier University study, the reviewers recognized the clinical relevance of patient beds as transmitters of dangerous healthcare-acquired infections such as C. diff, and the challenges of cleaning soft surfaces such as mattresses effectively. In addition to presenting the scope of the problem, the study identifies an infection prevention solution that can be easily implemented in clinical environments.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 500,000 C. diff infections each year in the U.S. “C. difficile has become the most common microbial cause of healthcare-associated infections in U.S. hospitals and costs up to $4.8 billion each year in excess health care costs for acute care facilities alone.” APIC members proved to be well aware of this issue; it was a frequent topic of discussion at the Trinity Guardion exhibit during the conference.
APIC attendees who visited the Trinity Guardion exhibit also had the opportunity to view a powerful video presentation that illustrates the scope of the problem with hospital beds. Using Glo Germ and black light, and conducting standard bedside practices, the video clearly showed the level of residual contamination on bed decks and soft surfaces due to ineffective disinfection practices and the aerosolization of microbes to various surfaces in the patient room during a patient admission. A copy of the video is available from Trinity Guardion on request. Visitors were given a copy of the video to take back to their facilities for education purposes.
The Trinity Guardion Patient Protection System, the first and only patented and launderable mattress barrier system in the world, works by protecting the mattress and bed deck from bacteria such as C. diff, which can cause serious infections. The system is designed to be laundered using high heat and chlorine bleach to inactivate spores, and can stand up to more than 100 washings and still maintain its barrier capability.
“We are pleased to know that APIC has placed this study among the top ten most important for their membership to know about,” said Bruce Rippe, CEO and co-founder of Trinity Guardion. “It’s important that infection preventionists help spread awareness of the serious issues around patient beds and HAI rates, and that they have a cost-effective and practical solution to offer their facilities once the scope of the problem is realized.”
About Trinity Guardion
Founded in 2010 and based in Batesville, IN, Trinity Guardion manufactures the Trinity Guardion Patient Protection System™, the only launderable cover system for hospital beds and bed decks that is specifically engineered to block and eliminate bacteria such as Clostridium difficile (C. diff). The system, a collaborative achievement from international scientists, physicians and academic professionals, delivers a level of bed cleanliness and infection rate reduction previously unseen in the healthcare industry.
Mary Ellen Rippe, Trinity Guardion, http://www.trinityguardion.com, +1 513-519-9936, [email protected]
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