CareFusion Launches Diagnostic Catheter to Help Clinicians Accurately Determine Causes of Hospital-Acquired and Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

SAN DIEGO, March 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CareFusion (NYSE: CFN), a leading, global medical device company, today announced the launch of the AirLife™ Diagnostic Catheter, a kit that helps clinicians obtain lower respiratory tract samples to accurately diagnose lung infections.

The AirLife Diagnostic Catheter is designed to include everything a single clinician may need to perform the procedure and relies on advanced "mini" bronchial-alveolar lavage (mini-BAL) technology, a diagnostic procedure of washing a sample of cells and secretions from the bronchial airspaces, to obtain a specimen from the lower respiratory airway at a patient's bedside.

According to the American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine, 2005, hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) accounts for approximately 25 percent of all hospital-associated infections (HAIs) and up to 27 percent of infections in the medical intensive-care unit and coronary care unit. Mechanical ventilation is the principal risk factor in developing HAP and the resulting condition is known as ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). It is important to treat these infections quickly with the specific antibiotic in order not to prolong the patient's time spent on a ventilator, but the challenge is knowing which to use.

"By allowing respiratory therapists to accurately obtain specimens, doctors can choose the right medication to help avoid excessive antibiotic use and quickly resolve the isolated infection," said Kathy Short, RRT, RN and Director of Respiratory Care Services, University of North Carolina Medical Center, Chapel Hill, N.C.

The development of HAP has also been shown to increase length of hospital stays and cost. According to Critical Care Medicine, 2004, the cost of VAP is estimated to be an additional $40,000 per hospital admission per patient with the disease and an estimated $1.2 billion per year in the U.S.

"The AirLife Diagnostic Catheter was developed to help physicians and clinicians determine the right medication for their patients while helping reduce the time and cost of treating potentially life-threatening infections," said David Schlotterbeck, chairman and CEO at CareFusion. "The device makes the diagnosis process faster and more convenient and is designed to help reduce cross-contamination to allow for more accurate and consistent sampling."

About CareFusion Corporation

CareFusion (NYSE: CFN) is a global corporation serving the health care industry with products and services that help hospitals measurably improve the safety and quality of care. The company develops market-leading technologies including Alaris® IV pumps, Pyxis® automated dispensing and patient identification systems, AVEA®, AirLife™ and LTV® series ventilation and respiratory products, ChloraPrep® products, MedMined™ services for infection surveillance, NeuroCare neurological monitoring and diagnostic products, V. Mueller® surgical instruments, and an extensive line of products that support interventional medicine. CareFusion employs more than 15,000 people across its global operations. More information may be found at www.carefusion.com and www.carefusion.com/airlifediagnosticcatheter.

SOURCE CareFusion Corporation