Jump to content
RemedySpot.com

Technology Addresses Decontamination Needs in Region Impacted by Katrina

Rate this topic


Guest guest

Recommended Posts

STERIS VHP® Technology Addresses Decontamination Needs in Region Impacted

by Hurricane Katrina

(javascript:void(0)) (javascript:void(0)) (javascript:void(0))

(http://www.prnewswire.com/rss/main.shtml)

(http://studio.financialcontent.com/Engine?Account=prnewswire & PageName=QUOTE & Tic\

ker=STE) (http://www.steris.com/)

Special Regulatory Exemptions Received To Help Restore Critical Infrastructure

Ambulance and Surgical Suite Decontamination Service In Progress

MENTOR, Ohio, Oct. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STERIS Corporation

(NYSE: _STE_

(http://studio.financialcontent.com/Engine?Account=prnewswire & PageName=QUOTE & Tic\

ker=STE) ) today announced that its patented vaporized

hydrogen peroxide

(VHP®) technology is being used to provide decontamination services for

emergency response vehicles, facilities and equipment potentially contaminated

with a broad range of pathogens as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Use of

STERIS VHP decontamination technology was granted under Special Local Needs

Exemptions from the states of Mississippi and Louisiana, in conjunction with

the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The flood waters and unsanitary conditions resulting from the hurricane

are causing persistent and serious public health risks in the Gulf States

region. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the EPA confirmed

the presence in the hurricane region of a multitude of infectious pathogens

including molds, Vibrio vulnificus, E. coli, enteroviruses, and many

opportunistic pathogens. Numerous deaths resulting from Vibrio spp.

infections including V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus were reported.

Proper decontamination of emergency vehicles, facilities, equipment and other

assets provides a safer environment and reduces the health risks associated

with these pathogens.

STERIS has completed decontamination services for a Mississippi hospital

that was forced to close six surgical suites due to contamination. The

hospital required a fast and effective method of simultaneously

decontaminating the surgical suites and the sensitive medical and electronic

equipment contained within the surgical areas. The surgical suites are now

back in operation.

STERIS's VHP technology, a low-temperature, dry process that rapidly and

effectively eliminates pathogenic organisms including bacteria, fungi and

viruses, has been used successfully for more than a decade by the

pharmaceutical and research industries. The VHP antimicrobial breaks down

into the environmentally friendly by-products water vapor and oxygen.

STERIS also provided decontamination services for ambulances used in the

affected areas that were found by independent microbiological testing to have

high levels of bacteria and fungi present due to the conditions in the region.

The ambulance provider sought out STERIS's unique decontamination process that

has been shown to be compatible with sensitive equipment and effective

throughout the ambulance.

STERIS noted that it continues to provide its decontamination expertise to

government agencies and disaster response companies in the region and believes

that its technologies can be more fully utilized to aid in the recovery

effort. The Company is working in conjunction with Major Incident Response,

Inc., a division of Strategix, LLC, an international developer, manufacturer,

distributor and provider of disaster response products and services, to

deliver decontamination services in the Gulf States region.

In addition to providing decontamination services, STERIS remains focused

on providing its surgical, critical care and sterile processing products and

services to the hospitals that have been impacted by the hurricane. Company

representatives are helping these hospitals assess and revitalize their

operations and restore standard operating conditions as quickly as possible.

" We stand ready to work with both the public and private sectors in

applying our VHP decontamination technology along with our other products,

expertise and services for rehabilitation of hospitals, ambulances and other

critical assets in the Gulf States region, " said STERIS president and chief

executive officer, Les C. Vinney. " The recovery efforts here present some

never-before-seen challenges and we believe our leading edge technologies and

capabilities can play a role in helping return this region to a level of

normalcy. "

To learn more about STERIS Decontamination Services, please call

800-333-8828.

About STERIS

The mission of STERIS Corporation is to provide a healthier today and

safer tomorrow through knowledgeable people and innovative infection

prevention, decontamination and health science technologies, products and

services. The Company's more than 5,000 dedicated employees around the world

work together to supply a broad array of solutions by offering a combination

of equipment, consumables and services to healthcare, pharmaceutical,

industrial and government customers. The Company is listed on the New York

Stock Exchange under the symbol STE. For more information, visit

_http://www.steris.com_ (http://www.steris.com/) .

This news release may contain statements concerning certain trends,

expectations, forecasts, estimates, or other forward-looking information

affecting or relating to the Company or its industry that are intended to

qualify for the protections afforded " forward-looking statements " under the

Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other laws and

regulations. Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date of this

release, and may be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as

" may, " " will, " " expects, " " believes, " " anticipates, " " plans, " " estimates, "

" projects, " " targets, " " forecasts, " and " seeks, " or the negative of such terms

or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology. Many important

factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the

forward-looking statements including, without limitation, disruption of

production or supplies, changes in market conditions, political events,

pending or future claims or litigation, competitive factors, technology

advances, and changes in government regulations or the application or

interpretation thereof. Other risk factors are described in the Company's Form

10-K and other securities filings. Many of these important factors are outside

STERIS's control. No assurances can be provided as to any future financial

results. Unless legally required, the Company does not undertake to update or

revise any forward-looking statements even if events make clear that any

projected results, express or implied, will not be realized. Other potential

risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially

from those in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation,

(a) the potential for increased pressure on pricing or raw material cost that

leads to erosion of profit margins, (B) the possibility that market demand

will not develop for new technologies, products or applications, or the

Company's business initiatives will take longer, cost more or produce lower

benefits than anticipated, © the possibility that application of or

compliance with laws, court rulings, regulations, certifications or other

requirements or standards may delay or prevent new product introductions,

affect the production and marketing of existing products, or otherwise affect

Company performance, results, or value, (d) the potential of international

unrest or effects of fluctuations in foreign currencies of countries where the

Company does a sizeable amount of business, and (e) the possibility of reduced

demand, or reductions in the rate of growth in demand, for the Company's

products and services.

This information does not supersede or modify product labeling,

instructions, user manuals or other Company technical literature or product

clearances or approvals. No results are guaranteed and actual results may vary

for those described herein. Customers and users are advised to follow product

user manuals and other applicable published instructions and warnings, assure

proper operator training, and contact STERIS Corporation with any technical,

operational, maintenance, use, handling or other questions.

SOURCE STERIS Corporation

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...