Bloomington, Ind. May 18, 2011 – Patients in more than 54,000 health care facilities will gain access to Cook Medical’s full line of peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICCs), including the Cook Spectrum® Turbo-Ject® antibiotic-impregnated PICC, effective May 1, 2011. Cook announced today it has been awarded an expanded agreement with Amerinet, a nationally recognized health care group purchasing organization, which will build on Cook’s longstanding dedication to bringing advanced medical devices and technology to Amerinet’s extensive base of providers.
“Amerinet is a leader in advancing the delivery of high-quality health care in an efficient and affordable manner,” said Dan Sirota, vice president and global leader of Cook Medical’s Interventional Radiology division. “Cook is proud to continue to be a trusted partner in delivering venous access products to Amerinet’s member facilities. Now more than ever, health care institutions must find ways to prevent dangerous and deadly catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs). It speaks volumes about the issue of CRBSIs for an organization like Amerinet to adopt the Spectrum technology.”
The expanded agreement will grant access to Cook’s comprehensive line of PICC products, including the company’s Spectrum Turbo-Ject PICC, which is impregnated with the antibiotics minocycline and rifampin and is a critical component1 in eliminating the 41,000 potentially fatal CRBSIs in the U.S. annually.2 Under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2011 guidelines for preventing intravascular catheter-related infections, the agency recommends using minocycline-and-rifampin-impregnated catheters or chlorhexidine/silver sulfadiazine catheters in patients whose catheter is expected to remain in place more than five days, if CRBSI rates are not decreasing with maximal sterile barrier and other recommended precautions alone.2 The broad range of Cook’s PICC products available to Amerinet members also includes silicone PICCs featuring Spectrum technology, Turbo-Flo® polyurethane PICCs and the PICC Procedural Tray.
About Amerinet
As a leading national health care group purchasing organization, Amerinet collaborates with acute and alternate care providers to create and deliver unique solutions through performance improvement resources, guidance and ongoing support. With better product standardization and utilization, new financial tools beyond contracting and alliances that help lower costs, raise revenue and champion quality, Amerinet enriches health care delivery for its members and the communities they serve. To learn more about how Amerinet can help you successfully navigate the future of health care reform, visit www.amerinet-gpo.com.
About Cook Medical
Founded in 1963, Cook Medical pioneered many of the medical devices now commonly used to perform minimally invasive medical procedures throughout the body. Today, the company integrates 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. For more information, visit www.cookmedical.com. Follow Cook Medical on Twitter @cookmedicalpr and @cook_ir.
Dr. Issam Raad and Dr. Rabih Darouiche are the co-inventors of the synergistic pairing of the antibiotics minocycline and rifampin that are impregnated within the catheter material of the Cook Spectrum catheter. Their institutions receive a royalty payment based upon Cook’s license to use this patented technology.
¹ Raad I, Darouiche R, Hachem R, et al. The broad-spectrum activity and efficacy of catheters coated with minocycline and rifampin. J Infect Dis. 1996;173(2):418-424.
² O’Grady NP, Alexander M, Burns LA, et al. Guidelines for the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Related Infections, 2011. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Social Services; 2011.