Needlestick Safety Alliance Announces Cook Inc. As New Member.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Dec. 10, 2001

The National Alliance for the Primary Prevention of Sharps Injuries (NAPPSI), founded by Venetec International, today announced that Cook Inc., a global manufacturer of minimally invasive medical devices, has joined the organization.

Cook is an industry leader in providing primary prevention technology to prevent needlestick injuries.

NAPPSI, a non-profit organization, promotes primary prevention of sharps injuries in the healthcare workplace. Primary prevention minimizes risk through practices and technologies that reduce or eliminate the need to introduce a sharp implement into the medical workplace.

"Cook is a company that sees the future and the pivotal role being played by primary prevention in healthcare worker safety," said Steve Bierman, M.D., NAPPSI's founder and the CEO and medical director of Venetec International, makers of StatLock safety securement devices. "Cook has made a conscious commitment to lead the way with primary prevention devices, such as needle-free access ports and StatLock securement devices, in their percutaneous drainage and central venous catheter kits and trays."

"We at Cook are very enthusiastic about joining NAPPSI in the campaign to improve healthcare worker safety through primary prevention," said Dan Sirota, marketing manager for Cook Critical Care, a division of Cook Inc. "Primary prevention is the single most effective way to prevent needlestick injuries, and NAPPSI is widely recognized as the leading advocate for primary prevention."

Cook manufactures the Full Spectrum Tray, a central venous catheter tray that provides everything needed to place the advanced Cook Spectrum(R) antibiotic impregnated central venous catheter. The Full Spectrum Tray was designed not only to be the most complete CVC tray on the market, but also to provide advanced needlestick protection.

The Full Spectrum Tray contains two significant primary prevention components: a StatLock(R) catheter securement device, which replaces suture for catheter securement and is proven to eliminate the risk of suture needlesticks; and the CLC2000(TM) needle-free injection cap.

Founded in 1963 with headquarters in Bloomington, Ind., Cook is a leading global manufacturer and distributor of medical products and interventional devices for radiology, cardiology, radiation oncology, neurology, general surgery, gastroenterology, vascular access, urology, obstetrics and gynecology, critical care and endovascular procedures. More than 40 companies in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia and Asia design, produce, manufacture and distribute COOK(R) brand medical devices to physicians around the world.

For more information about Cook Inc., call 800/457-4500 or access www.cookgroup.com.

NAPPSI (tel. [phone], www.NAPPSI.org) utilizes its monthly e-mail newsletter, a national speaker's bureau, and other activities to inform the media, decision makers and opinion leaders on the value of primary prevention.

Other NAPPSI corporate members include:

-- Venetec International, www.StatLock.com or www.Venetec.com, 800/833-3895;

-- Cell Robotics International (OTCBB:CRII), www.CellRobotics.com,
505/343-1131;

-- Bioject Medical Technologies (NASDAQ:BJCT), www.Bioject.com, 503/639-7221;

-- ICU Medical (NASDAQ:ICUI), www.ICUmed.com, 800/824-7890;

-- ALARIS Medical Systems Inc. (AMEX:AMI), www.alarismed.com, 858/458-7000;

-- Equidyne Systems Inc. (AMEX:IJX), www.equidyne.com, 877/474-6539;

-- Porex Medical Products Group, www.Porex.com, 909/390-9080;

-- Calypte Biomedical Inc. (NASDAQ:CALY), www.Calypte.com, 877/CALYPTE
(225-9783);

-- Arrow International (NASDAQ:ARRO), www.arrowintl.com, 800/233-3187;

-- B. Braun Medical, www.BBraunusa.com, 610/691-5400;

-- National Association of Residents and Interns, www.NARI-assn.com,
800/221-2168 ext. 5;

-- PHT Services Ltd., www.phts.com, 803/731-5300;

-- D'Antonio Consultants International Inc., 315/463-4999;

-- Helping Hands Sanctuary of Idaho Inc., www.healthcaretraining.org,
208/221-1611;

-- Association of Needle-Free Injection Manufacturers (ANFIM), 315/463-4999;

-- Health Industry Distributors Association (HIDA), www.HIDAnetwork.com,
703/549-4432;

-- ETHICON Inc., www.EthiconInc.com;

-- Abbott Laboratories, www.abbotthosp.com, 800/222-6883;

-- The Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare (AOHP),
www.aohp.org/aohp, 412/749-7328;

-- BD Inc. (Becton Dickinson) (NYSE:BDX), www.bd.com, 201/847-6800;

-- The Infusion Nurses Society (INS), www.INS1.org;

-- The National Association of Vascular Access Networks (NAVAN),
www.navannet.org, 888/57-NAVAN (888/576-2826).

-- The American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), www.aacn.org,
800/899-2226.

For NAPPSI information, call 858/350-8623 or access www.NAPPSI.org.