SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwired - Aug 26, 2013) - Ivera Medical, creator of Curos® passive disinfection devices for needleless IV valves and male-luer connectors, announced today that it has been awarded a three-year, sole-source group purchasing contract with the Premier healthcare alliance, a performance improvement alliance of more than 2,900 U.S. hospitals and 100,000 other healthcare sites. Separately, Ivera was awarded a sole source ASCEND (Accelerated Supply Chain Endeavor) contract, to supply facilities that participate specifically in the Premier ASCEND program to control and reduce costs through simplified purchasing processes, appropriate clinical utilization and specially negotiated contracts. Effective September 1, 2013, Premier members gain access to both Ivera's Curos disinfecting port protectors and Curos Tips disinfecting device for male-luer devices at specially negotiated pricing and terms.
Curos products employ passive disinfection to disinfect intravenous devices, killing the organisms1 that cause patient bloodstream infections2 and eliminating the technique variation found in manual procedures. In one survey, fifty-six percent of nurses did not feel the need to disinfect a catheter hub prior to connection3, yet the standard for proper manual disinfection requires 15-30 seconds of vigorous scrubbing with an alcohol pad prior to valve access and device connections. However, scrub-the-hub policies, when performed, rely on individual technique, can be difficult to achieve consistently in a fast-paced acute care setting, and provide no means for compliance auditing.4
With two disinfecting port protector options -- Curos Strips and individual Curos -- nurses can conveniently comply with valve disinfection protocols by simply peeling the foil seal from the distinctive green cap and twisting Curos onto the top of any luer-activated IV access port or needleless valve. Inside Curos, a 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA) saturated sponge-like foam bathes the surface of the venous access device to provide consistent and reliable disinfection of the port surface in 3 minutes. Once in place, Curos maintains a clean port for up to 7 days, if not removed.
Extending passive disinfection and protection to male-luer connectors, Curos Tips improve disinfection compliance with IV tubing connectors and needleless syringes by immersing the exterior of the male luer in alcohol. Curos Tips come in a convenient strip dispenser that places five disinfecting Tips in easy reach of clinician at the point of care. The cap's highly visible bright green color allows auditors to monitor caregiver disinfection practice compliance at a glance.