Protecting Patients, Eliminating Infections, Improving Performance: Emerging Tools to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections.

Event will bring together industry and academic experts to explore how to reduce the prevalence of infections in healthcare environments

WHAT:     Each year, more than two million patients acquire infections
          in U.S. healthcare facilities, adding an estimated $30.5
          billion annually to the nation's health tab weakening the
          financial performance of healthcare institutions.

          "Protecting Patients, Eliminating Infections, Improving
          Performance" will bring together industry and academic
          experts to explore how the incidence of these infections
          has changed over time, identify a range of steps that can
          reduce the risk of these infections, examine the
          innovations - emerging technologies, new tools, inventive
          methodologies - that can be employed to reduce infection
          within healthcare facilities; and discuss a series of U.S.
          infection prevention success stories.

          The event will feature opening remarks by Betsy McCaughey,
          Ph.D., former Lieutenant Governor of New York and Chairman
          of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths, and an
          interactive panel discussion.




WHO:      --  Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D., Chairman of the Committee to
              Reduce Infection Deaths
          --  Kathleen Meehan Arias, MS, MT (ASCP), CIC, Director of
              Arias Infection Control Consulting, LLC, and Specialist
              in Public Health and Medical Laboratory Microbiology
          --  Stephen Brecher, Ph.D., Director of Microbiology
              Laboratories at Boston VA Healthcare System, and
              Assistant Professor of Pathology, Boston University
              School of Medicine
          --  Ella S. Dade, RN, Director of Special Projects, ER One
              Institute at Washington Hospital Center
          --  Jeffery Trogolo, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer, AgION
              Technologies, Inc.

WHEN:     Thursday, June 22, 2006
          Registration and breakfast begin at 7:30am
          Program begins at 8:00am and will conclude at 9:30am

WHERE:    Fairmont Copley Plaza, Venetian Room
          138 St. James Avenue, Boston, MA

There is no charge for attending this event. RSVPs are strongly encouraged as space is limited. To RSVP call 781-224-7111 or [e-mail]. Media inquiries should be directed to Kate Casolaro at 617-443-9933 x338 or [e-mail].