Medline Shines Spotlight on Evidence-Based Cauti Prevention Practices and Products at Annual APIC Congress

MUNDELEIN, IL–(Marketwire – July 9, 2010) –  Looking to support guidelines from APIC, SHEA, CDC and the Joint Commission for preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), Medline Industries, Inc. will be showcasing its evidence-based ERASE CAUTI program and urological products at the upcoming Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) Annual Scientific Meeting in New Orleans, LA, July 12. 

CAUTI is one of the most common healthcare-associated infections, not only comprising 40 percent of all institutionally acquired infections, but also eight percent of infections in the home care setting. Studies show that one in four patients receives an indwelling urinary catheter at some point during their hospital stay and up to 50 percent of these catheters are placed unnecessarily.

During the three-day exhibition, Medline will demonstrate its ERASE CAUTI program, a revolutionary new approach to managing catheters and reducing CAUTI. Based on the same criteria the CDC used in developing their new CAUTI prevention guidelines, the ground-breaking ERASE CAUTI program features a reengineered one-layered catheter tray coupled with an evidence-based clinical education program.

The Medline clinical team will also be conducting a series of live, multimedia overviews of its cutting edge competency validation tools for assessing and sustaining staff results. The interactive competency programs are available to staff anytime via Medline University, Medline’s online education resource, and can be easily incorporated into the annual skills competency program for a facility’s nursing staff.

Among the additional CAUTI prevention products available in the booth (#1907) for demonstration during the show are exam gloves and hand hygiene compliance tools that support aseptic technique and the BioCon 500 Scanner, which can be used in place of a urinary catheter to assess bladder volumes and reducing the number of catheterizations. Avoiding unnecessary catheter use is a primary strategy for preventing CAUTI.

Additional information on the ERASE CAUTI program is available on Medline’s website at www.medline.com/erase.

About Medline Industries, Inc. 
Medline, the nation’s largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare products, manufactures and distributes more than 100,000 products to hospitals, extended-care facilities, surgery centers, home care dealers and agencies. Headquartered in Mundelein, Ill., Medline has more than 900 dedicated sales representatives nationwide to support its broad product line and cost management services.

Over the past five years, Medline has been the fastest-growing distributor of medical and surgical supplies in the U.S., serving as the primary distributor to over 450 major hospitals and healthcare systems. As a leading distributor, Medline offers a comprehensive array of consulting and management services encompassing the supply chain and logistics, utilization and standardization, business tools and enhanced reporting capabilities and on-staff clinicians.

Medline has a growing network of 32 distribution centers around the country, as well as an expanding, dedicated transportation fleet with over 200 vehicles in a variety of sizes to fit customers’ specific delivery needs. The fleet is equipped with the latest navigation devices for enhanced order tracking and communication.