Nice Pak/PDI Announces "My Healthy Arkansas" Results
Researchers Document 25 Percent Drop in Community Infection Rate During City-wide Hand Hygiene Intervention
Mooresville, Indiana (PRWEB) December 16, 2010
An unprecedented public health initiative has demonstrated the potential of hand hygiene awareness and compliance to reduce the spread of illness and related healthcare costs in a community. The study further demonstrated the power of public-private partnerships in tackling intractable health issues, specifically both Community and Healthcare Acquired Infections.
Nice-Pak Products, Inc. / Professional Disposables International, Inc. (PDI), today announced results of the "My Healthy Arkansas Initiative," a multi-faceted program conducted in Jonesboro, Arkansas. This program aimed at decreasing healthcare costs by reducing the levels of community-acquired infection, specifically Staph infections. The program also focused on raising awareness of hand hygiene through educational programs that trained more than 10,500 people on the importance of hand hygiene and the correct use of alcohol-based hand wipes. Sani-Hands® Antimicrobial Alcohol Gel Hand Wipes and dispensing floor stands were made available throughout the community, including shopping areas, various local businesses, all city government buildings, the University and schools.
At the conclusion of the study, researchers confirmed a 25 percent reduction in the incidence of skin and skin structure infections presenting to the hospital emergency department compared to the beginning of the study. The most common isolate from the wound cultures was Methicillin Resistant Staphyloccous aureus (MRSA). Preliminary findings for the study were presented at the annual Infectious Diseases Society of America Conference on October 23, 2010 by lead researcher, Dr. Carl Abraham, Department of Epidemiology, St. Bernards Medical Center.
"Prevention efforts play a significant role in cutting healthcare costs in Arkansas and across the United States," Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe said. "Exploring partnerships, like this one between Jonesboro and Nice-Pak/PDI, helps find new ways to reduce both the transmission of disease and the need for treatment."
According to the U. S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), hand hygiene remains the single most important way to break the chain of infection. "Nice-Pak/PDI is pleased to have been a part of the My Healthy Arkansas Initiative and we are extremely encouraged by the dramatic results that have been demonstrated in the community," said Dr. Hudson Garrett, Director of Clinical Affairs for PDI. "Given the tremendous toll that Staph and MRSA infections take on the healthcare system, any decrease in these infections will result in decreases in the costs of providing healthcare."
In addition to Nice-Pak/PDI, My Healthy Arkansas program partners included the Arkansas Governor's Office and First Lady Ginger Beebe, Jonesboro City Government including Mayor Harold Perrin, St. Bernard's Healthcare, Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Arkansas State University.
For more than 30 years, Nice-Pak/PDI pioneered the development, testing, manufacturing and marketing of pre-moistened wipes as the optimum delivery system for skin antisepsis, hand sanitizing, patient care and surface disinfection. Today, PDI remains at the forefront of infection prevention with superior products, convenient product accessories and unparalleled training and support for clinical staff and environmental services. Its trusted brands include Sani-Cloth®, Sani-Hands®, Hygea® and Chlorascrub™. Nice-Pak Products, Inc. and Professional Disposables International, Inc. are headquartered in Orangeburg, New York. http://www. pdipdi. com.
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