Press Releases

DUBLIN, Ohio, June 25, 2007 — Cardinal Health, a global provider of products and services that improve the safety and productivity of health care, today introduced its wet clipper prep tray and SensiClip^TM blade to help clinicians better comply with guidelines and standards to reduce surgical site infections issued by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).

 

 

The new additions to its portfolio of surgical clippers and accessories were unveiled at the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) annual meeting in San Jose, California.  The SensiClip blade and wet clipper prep tray are designed for use with Cardinal Health’s Rechargeable Surgical Clipper System, which helps minimize the risk of infections. Disposable blades are easy to install and remove and help prevent cross contamination. The Cardinal Health clipper is completely submersible for thorough cleaning and disinfecting.

 

“Each one of our OR customers is concerned about surgical site infections and wants to make every effort to eliminate them,” said Gordon Lafortune, Cardinal Health’s president of Infection Prevention.  “These new products make it easier for health-care providers to adhere to these guidelines, which means that more lives are saved.”

 

In its Guidelines for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, the CDC states there is an increased surgical site infection risk associated with shaving as a method of preoperative hair removal. Whenever hair is removed, the CDC strongly recommends using surgical clippers to remove hair immediately before the operation in a location outside of the OR.

 

AORN also encourages practitioners to clip close to the time of surgery with gloved hands, outside of the OR. In its Recommended Practices for Skin Preparation of Patients, AORN specifically recommends using an electric or battery-powered clipper with a disposable or reusable head that can be cleaned and disinfected between patients.

  

The IHI supports clipping and urges the avoidance of shaving. Their changes for improvement include removal of all razors from the OR and supply area, hair removal when necessary with clippers right before surgery, patient education on appropriate hair removal techniques to prevent shaving at home, and establishment of a protocol for when and how to remove hair.

 

“Cardinal Health’s wet clipper prep tray helps control the dispersal of loose hair by wetting the surgical site prior to clipping,” said Lafortune. “Since hair can harbor bacteria, use of the wet clipper prep tray is a way to help reduce the risk of contaminating the surgical field.” He added that wetting the hair with soapy water makes it softer and easier to remove.

 

Each tray features a ready-to-use, deep two-compartment basin, presaturated soap sponge, a disposable, single-use clipper blade, cotton-tipped applicators and absorbent and water-resistant towels. It is safe and easy to use.

 

The SensiClip blade is the third blade introduced by Cardinal Health for use with its Rechargeable Surgical Clipper System. It is the only surgical clipper blade available specifically designed to remove hair from the perineal areas of the body. Its unique tapered head and narrow blade design allow for excellent handling and safety when removing hair for specialties such as urology, labor and delivery and gynecology. The company also offers a general-use blade for body hair and a neuro-blade for scalp hair.

 

Cardinal Health’s clipper system can be used wet or dry and offers an unmatched cutting capability.

 

Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is an $80 billion, global company serving the health-care industry with products and services that help hospitals, physician offices and pharmacies reduce costs, improve safety, productivity and profitability, and deliver better care to patients.  With a focus on making supply chains more efficient, reducing hospital-acquired infections and breaking the cycle of harmful medication errors, Cardinal Health develops market-leading technologies, including Alaris^® IV pumps, Pyxis^® automated dispensing systems, MedMined^® data mining software and the CareFusion^TM patient identification system.  The company also manufactures medical and surgical products and is one of the largest distributors of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies worldwide.  Ranked No. 19 on the Fortune 500 and No. 1 in its sector on Fortune's ranking of Most Admired firms, Cardinal Health employs more than 40,000 people on five continents.  More information about the company may be found at www.cardinalhealth.com.