Cook's Spectrum Antibiotic-Impregnated Pediatric Catheter Approved for Sale in Europe.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- In a move that could significantly reduce the likelihood of children acquiring life-threatening infections during intensive care unit stays, Cook Critical Care's Spectrum(R) Minocycline/Rifampin Impregnated catheter has received CE Marking approval in Europe.

Although the Cook Spectrum catheter has been available commercially for years in the United States, Canada, Latin America and other countries, this is the first time the infection-fighting medical device will be available in Europe.

"This approval will mean a reduced risk of catheter-related bloodstream infections for pediatric patients and save hospitals the enormous cost of treating these patients who develop infections," said Bruce Gingles, vice president of Cook Critical Care. "Now, doctors in Europe treating pediatric critical care cases will have the choice of using a catheter that provides the highest level of protection against catheter-related bloodstream infections."

A 2003 study published by the peer-reviewed journal Pediatric Critical Care Medicine demonstrated that pediatric patients receiving a central venous line were at 10 times greater risk of developing a catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI), while a 2003 article in the journal Pediatric Infectious Diseases reported that CRBSI's are "important causes of substantial morbidity, mortality and prolonged stays in pediatric intensive care units."

CRBSI's are known to cause death in 10 to 20 percent of patients, and recent studies have shown that catheter-related bloodstream infection rates among pediatric patients in intensive care units are often higher than the rates for adults being treated in intensive care units. Cook's clinically proven Spectrum catheter is used primarily in critical care settings.

"The antimicrobial impregnated Spectrum catheter, along with education and aseptic techniques, provides protection against catheter-related bloodstream infections for both pediatric and adult patient populations," Gingles said. "This not only can save lives, it's been proven to save hospitals a substantial amount of money as they reduce the cost of treating these often-preventable infections."

Cook Spectrum catheters use the company's patented antimicrobial impregnation process that helps provide protection on both the internal and external surfaces of the catheter. Spectrum catheters have been shown to be 12 times more likely to resist life-threatening catheter-related infections compared to chlorhexadine/silver sulfadiazine-coated catheters.

The world's largest privately owned medical device manufacturer with international headquarters in Bloomington, Ind., COOK(R) (www.cookmedical.com) is a leading designer, manufacturer and global distributor of minimally invasive medical device technology for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Since its founding in 1963, Cook has created innovative technologies for stents and stent-grafts, catheters, wire guides, introducer needles and sheaths, embolization coils, medical biomaterials, vena cava filters, implanted cardiac lead extraction equipment and other minimally invasive medical devices.