BOTHELL, Wash., Dec. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Verathon®, maker of BladderScan® bladder volume instruments is pleased to announce that portable bladder volume ultrasound is now included in the new 2009 CDC guidelines for the Prevention of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CA-UTIs). The new CDC guidelines, introduced in early November 2009, replace the previous guidelines which date back to 1981. The guidelines are located on the Web at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/dpac_uti_pc.html (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061011/SFW044LOGO) The issuance of the new CDC Guidelines in November follow the news from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) posted in October 1, 2008, that announced Medicare would no longer reimburse for treatment of preventable nosocomial CA-UTIs.(1) That important regulatory change has meant that hospitals now may face significant cost increases based on reduced reimbursements for CA-UTIs contracted during a hospital stay. "Over the past several years, many acute care and long term care facilities have found BladderScan® bladder volume ultrasound helpful in reducing the number of catheterizations and related urinary tract infections," stated Gerald McMorrow, CEO and Founder of Verathon Inc. "With bladder ultrasound now included in the new guidelines, many other health care providers will be able to include this valuable tool in their catheter bundles," continued McMorrow. BladderScan® 3D ultrasound bladder volume instruments provide quick, accurate and reliable bladder volume measurements. The measurements are noninvasive, and the devices are portable and easy for staff to use. The new CDC guidelines include the following information for portable ultrasound: 1. Consider using a portable ultrasound device to assess urine volume in patients undergoing intermittent catheterization to assess urine volume and reduce necessary catheter insertions. (II-H) 2. If ultrasound bladder scanners are used, ensure that indications for use are clearly stated, nursing staff are trained in their use, and equipment is adequately cleaned and disinfected in between patients. (II-H-1) 3. Implement quality improvement (QI) programs or strategies to enhance appropriate use of indwelling catheters and to reduce the risk of CAUTI based on a facility risk assessment. (IV-A) The purposes of the QI programs should be: 1) to assure appropriate utilization of catheters 2) to identify and remove catheters that are no longer needed (e.g. daily review of their continued need) and 3) to ensure adherence to hand hygiene and proper care of catheters. (IV-A) Examples of programs that have been demonstrated to be effective include: Protocols for management of postoperative urinary retention, such as nurse-directed use of intermittent catheterization and use of bladder ultrasound scanners. (IV-A-b) Infection control and prevention is an increasing concern in healthcare settings -- and UTIs are the most common hospital-acquired infection.(2, 3) According to a study in the American Journal of Medicine, the annual cost of UTIs in hospitals may be as much as $451 million.(4) In 2002, the CDC estimated that UTIs accounted for 36% of all nosocomial infections. That year, more than 13,000 deaths were attributed to hospital-acquired UTIs.(5) Up to 25% of hospitalized patients have a urinary catheter placed during their stay. The use of indwelling urinary catheters accounts for 80% of nosocomial UTIs. (2, 6) The new CDC guidelines indicate that, "an estimated 17% to 69% of CAUTI may be preventable with recommended infection control measures, which means that up to 380,000 infections and 9000 deaths related to CAUTI per year could be prevented."(7) About Verathon Inc. Verathon® designs and manufactures reliable, state-of-the-art medical devices and services that offer a meaningful improvement in patient care to the health care community. The company's noninvasive BladderScan® instrument is a standard of care for portable bladder volume measurement. The brand is found in over 60 countries in Urology and Primary Care practices, as well as Acute and Extended Care facilities. With the January 2006 acquisition of Saturn Biomedical Systems in Vancouver, Canada, Verathon® entered Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Emergency markets with the GlideScope® Video Laryngoscope (GVL®) brand. Verathon® is headquartered in Bothell, Washington and operates as a subsidiary of Roper Industries. For more information, please visit http://www.verathon.com/. About Roper Industries Roper Industries (NYSE:ROP) is a market-driven, diversified growth company and is a component of the Fortune 1000, S&P Midcap 400 and the Russell 1000 Indexes. Roper provides engineered products and solutions for global niche markets, including water, energy, radio frequency and research/medical applications. Additional information about Roper Industries is available on the Company's website at http://www.roperind.com/. Media Contact: Rick Goetter, Brand Director - BladderScan®, Verathon Medical, 425.867.1348 (Ext. 5608). Alternate Contacts: Jane Mueller, VP of Marketing, 425.867.1348 (Ext. 5600) and Nansea Carmichael, Executive Assistant - Marketing, 425.867.1348 (Ext. 5607). Copyright 2009, Verathon Inc. BladderScan, GlideScope, GVL, and Verathon are trademarks of Verathon Inc. References: 1. Federal Register, Vol. 72: 162; 47203-47205, Rules and Regulations. 2. Saint S, et al., "Preventing Hospital-Acquired Urinary Tract Infection in the United States: A National Study." Clinical Infectious Diseases 2008: 46; 243-56. 3. Siegel JD, Rhinehart E, Jackson M, Chiarello L, "Management of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms In Healthcare Settings," The Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (2006), http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/pdf/ar/mdroGuideline2006.pdf. 4. Consumers Union, "New Medicare Regulations Adopted to Reduce Certain Hospital Infections and Medical Errors - Medicare Will Withhold Payments To Hospitals For Failing To Keep Patients Safe," (Aug. 8, 2007). http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/core_health_care/004786.html. 5. Klevens, RM, et al, "Estimating Health Care-Associated Infections and Deaths in U.S. Hospitals, 2002", Public Health Reports, March - April 2007, Vol. 122, 160-166. 6. Krieger, et.al., "Urinary tract etiology of bloodstream infections in hospitalized patients." J Infect Dis. 1983; 148(1): 57-62. 7. Umscheid C, Mitchell M, Agarwal R, Williams K, Brennan P. Mortality from reasonably-preventable hospital acquired infections. Included in written testimony by the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America for the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing on Healthcare-Associated Infections: A Preventable Epidemic, chaired by Henry A. Waxman, April 16, 2008, Washington, DC. [congressional testimony]. Quoted in: Guideline for Prevention of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections 2009. Atlanta, GA. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Dept. of Health and Human Services; 2009. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061011/SFW044LOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Verathon Inc. CONTACT: Rick Goetter, Brand Director - BladderScan(R), +1-425-867-1348, ext. 5608, or Jane Mueller, VP of Marketing, +1-425-867-1348, ext. 5600, or Nansea Carmichael, Executive Assistant - Marketing, +1-425-867-1348, ext. 5607, all of of Verathon Medical Web Site: http://www.verathon.com/ http://www.roperind.com/

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