Ethicon, Inc, a Johnson & Johnson Company, announced that Biopatch Protective Disk with CHG (chlorhexidine gluconate) will include new design elements and updated packaging to make it easier for surgeons, nurses and other healthcare providers to apply the product correctly around catheters to reduce the risk of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs). Distribution of Biopatch with the enhanced design and packaging began on August 10, 2009 and the product will be available nationwide by mid-August.

Biopatch is placed directly on the skin at the point of catheter insertion and provides seven days of continuous active antisepsis. In a clinical study, the use of Biopatch was associated with a 76 per cent reduction in CRBSI. Published practice standards as outlined by key healthcare organizations - SHEA, ISDA, AHA, APIC and the Joint Commission - include using a 'clorhexidine-containing sponge dressing' as a strategy for reducing CRBSIs. Biopatch is the only product of its kind with an FDA-cleared indication to reduce CRBSI.

The enhanced design and packaging for Biopatch includes easy-to-follow instructions and clearly marked 'up' arrows to signify correct application with respect to skin orientation of the product. This new design is intended to provide clear and immediate guidance on the application of Biopatch with each use. In addition, Biopatch packaging now features color-coded elements designed to instantly identify the size and center-hole diameter of the product.

"Proper application of a medical device is essential for maximizing efficacy," said Leigh Ann Bowe-Geddes, BS, RN, CRNI, a vascular access specialist at the University of Louisville Hospital in Louisville. "The new design of Biopatch helps ensure that this technology is used properly, which helps protect patients in the fight against infection."

In the US, approximately 80,000 central venous CRBSIs are estimated to occur each year in ICU patients. CRBSIs are associated with extended hospital stays, requiring an estimated nine to 12 additional days in hospital. According to the CDC, the cost of treating a CRBSI can range from $34,508 - $56,000. The average cost of the Biopatch product is approximately $6.

The safety and effectiveness of Biopatch have not been established for children less than 16 years of age. The protective disk is not to be used on premature infants or on patients with a known sensitivity to CHG.

Biopatch is marketed by Ethicon, Inc, a Johnson & Johnson company. Ethicon continues Johnson & Johnson's 100-year commitment to wound care today with innovative products for general surgery, wound management, women's health and urology, aesthetic medicine and wound closure.