Limerick, Ireland, August 23, 2010 — With the addition of the new five-lumen central venous catheter (CVC), Cook Medical now provides a full line of Spectrum® technology products for physicians and patients in Europe. The five-lumen CVC was created in response to physician demand and provides ease and convenience to health-care centers, providing Spectrum multi-lumen catheter technology needed in the most demanding critical care cases.

Cook's Spectrum catheters are impregnated with a combination of antimicrobial drugs, minocycline and rifampin, and are clinically proven to reduce catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs). This lifesaving technology combats bacteria that can colonize the surface of CVCs and reduces the risk of infection.

Cook is now supplying a complete line of catheters that fight CRBSIs, preventable infections that affect tens of thousands of patients each year. By completing the product family with the introduction of the five-lumen catheter, it is now possible for physicians to have a full array of products at their disposal to combat these deadly infections.

“The introduction of the five-lumen catheter to the market is an important step in improving our service to patients and physicians,” said Bruce Gingles, global leader for Cook's Critical Care division. “Now that we are able to offer a comprehensive product line, physicians will have the technology they need to fight CRBSIs as effectively as possible.”

About Cook Medical
Founded in 1963, Cook Medical helped invent and popularize interventional medicine, pioneering many of the devices now commonly used worldwide to perform minimally invasive medical procedures throughout the body. Today, the company integrates minimally invasive medical devices, drugs and biologic grafts to enhance patient safety and improve clinical outcomes. Since its inception, Cook has operated as a family-held private corporation focused on providing superior patient outcomes while reducing health care costs. For more information, visit http://www.cookmedical.com. Follow Cook Medical on Twitter at twitter.com/cookmedicalpr.