Getinge Canada Limited Launches the Getinge Assure SafeStep Contamination Monitoring System at the 2012 Community and Hospital Infection Control Association - Canada, Meeting

MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 19, 2012 /CNW/ - Each year in Canada, more than 220,000 healthcare associated infections result in 8,500-12,000 deaths, and the rates are rising.  Infections are the fourth leading cause of death in Canada¹. A Point Prevalence Surveillance Project for Healthcare-Associated Infections within Selected Canadian Health Care Institutions was conducted.   The overall prevalence for HAI's has been rising from 111/1000 patients to 124/1000 patients comparing the data from two separate studies between the periods 2002 to 2009².

A survey of Canadian hospitals (reported in 2000) estimated the direct costs of hospital acquired infections in Canada to be approximately $1 billion annually.¹

Although visual inspections should be used as the first stage in an integrated infection control monitoring program, there is growing recognition that a visual inspection will not detect microbial contamination. A recent report on the prevention and control of HAIs published by the Ontario Auditor General recommended "that new technologies for monitoring cleanliness in hospitals should be evaluated, with a focus on surfaces that are often touched by hospital staff, patients and others"³

The Getinge Assure SafeStep Contamination Monitoring System verifies the cleanliness of surfaces, endoscopes and cannulated instruments in just 15 seconds. By detecting ATP (adenosine triphosphate) - the energy molecule found in all human, animal, plant, bacterial, yeast, and mold cells -SafeStep gives you the testing power to minimize HAIs and optimize patient and staff safety.

"We are very pleased to introduce innovative diagnostic technology  that can have a profound impact on patient safety and transform the cost of HAI's into new Healthcare initiatives", states Doug Friesen, President of Getinge Canada Limited.

About Getinge Canada Limited

A member of the Getinge Group, a Swedish multinational, Getinge Canada Limited is also proud to be a world leader in the field of infection control - one of the foremost providers of disinfectors and sterilizers in the healthcare and life sciences sectors. Innovation and technological progress have been the hallmarks of our work for over 100 years.

For more information about Getinge Canada Limited, please visit www.getinge.com

¹http://cupe.ca/health-care/health-care-associated-infections#executive-summary

²http://shea.confex.com/shea/2010/webprogram/Paper2724.html

³ McCarter, J. (2008 September).