Surveillance System Generates Real-time Information Designed to Reduce Spread of Infections
Baltimore, MD -- BD Diagnostics, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), announced today the launch of the BD Protect™ Infection Surveillance and Data Management System, a portfolio of healthcare management software solutions that tracks infections and helps prevent their transmission at three levels -- from patient to patient, between patients and healthcare workers, and from community sources to healthcare settings.
"This strategic expansion of BD's portfolio enables us to provide a set of integrated information solutions to clinicians striving to reduce the incidence and transmission of infections in their facilities," said Philippe Jacon, President of BD Diagnostics - Diagnostic Systems. "It is a natural complement to our rapid molecular and chromogenic assays for detection and diagnosis of these infectious organisms."
The software provides real-time tracking and analysis of potential infection-related events to improve infection prevention workflow, communications and response time. Robust report capability enables analysis of infection rates, evaluation of patient risk factors, monitoring of preventive processes, and measurement of progress toward infection prevention and patient safety goals.
"Preventing the spread of infections is becoming more challenging each day," said Tracy Gustafson, M.D., Worldwide Director, Infection Prevention Software Development and Medical Affairs, BD Diagnostics - Diagnostic Systems. "The problem is magnified by global travel, new and more dangerous microbes, overuse and misuse of antibiotics, healthcare staffing cuts, and risks to immuno-compromised patients. The BD Protect system provides actionable information that assists infection prevention professionals in making timely decisions."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) as one of the top 10 causes of death in the United States.1 Designed by CDC-trained epidemiologists, the BD Protect system addresses multiple issues confronting healthcare administrators and public health officers, including the transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms in healthcare settings and escalating costs related to HAIs.
The portfolio includes three modules. BD Protect™ Infection Prevention targets reduction of HAIs in patients. BD Protect™ Healthcare Worker Safety monitors employee vaccinations, testing, in-service education, injuries and illnesses to protect both employees and patients. BD Protect™ Syndromic Surveillance continuously analyzes emergency department patient data for reportable diseases and symptoms that could signal a possible community outbreak. It also can be used at a Health Department to collect and analyze community-wide data from multiple hospitals.
With assistance from the complete BD Protect portfolio, infection preventionists can identify, control and help prevent infections in patients, employees and the community. The software also analyzes length of stay, isolation days and infection costs and supports antibiotic stewardship, enabling hospitals to reduce expenses while providing better patient care. The BD Protect system is available in single-facility and enterprise-wide editions. Visit www.bd.com/ds/BDProtect for more information.
This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements (as defined under Federal securities laws) regarding BD's performance, including future revenues, products and income, or events or developments that BD expects to occur or anticipates occurring in the future. All such statements are based upon current expectations of BD and involve a number of business risks and uncertainties. Actual results could vary materially from anticipated results described, implied or projected in any forward-looking statement. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to: competitive factors; pricing and market share pressures; changes in interest or foreign currency exchange rates; difficulties inherent in product development and delays in product introductions; changes in regional, national or foreign economic conditions; increases in energy costs; fluctuations in costs and availability of raw materials and in BD's ability to maintain favorable supplier arrangements and relationships; and changes in healthcare or other governmental regulation; issuance of new or revised accounting standards, as well as other factors discussed in this press release and in BD's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof except as required by applicable laws or regulations.
