Experts Call for Urgent Action to Address Surgical Site Infections

Geneva (ots/PRNewswire) - Leading specialists at ICPIC congress come
together to discuss the issue of SSIs and recent guidelines
regarding the use of triclosan-coated sutures in all types of
surgery[6]

Ethicon* part of the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies**
has joined leading wound closure specialists to discuss
recommendations to ease the burden of surgical site infections (SSIs)
on patients and costs to healthcare systems across Europe, Middle
East and Africa. SSIs can be a serious complication of surgery, and
are becoming the most common healthcare-associated infections,
increasing morbidity and mortality rates among affected
patients.[1],[2] The meeting was held yesterday evening at the
fourth International Consortium for Prevention & Infection Control
(ICPIC) conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8126251-ethicon-stop-surgical-site
-infection/

Speaking at the event, Professor Leaper, Professor of Clinical
Sciences at the University of Huddersfield commented: "There are many
reasons why we must act urgently to limit the incidence of surgical
site infections. Not only do they have a significant impact on
patients in terms of delayed wound healing, increased need for
further surgery and longer hospital stays, but prescribing
antibiotics to combat surgical site infections contributes to the
growing problem of anti-microbial resistance.[3],[4]"

Health authorities across the world recognize the severity of the SSI
issue, which can affect up to 20% of patients undergoing surgery.[5]
In 2016, the World Health Organization issued global guidelines on
SSI prevention
(http://www.who.int/gpsc/ssi-prevention-guidelines/en/) in which they
suggest the use of triclosan-coated sutures in all types of surgery
to reduce the incidence of SSI.[6] These recommendations have
received further support from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
(http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/fullarticle/2623725),[7]
and the American College of Surgeons/Surgical Infection Society (http
://www.journalacs.org/article/S1072-7515(16)31563-0/abstract).[8]
Most recently, EUnetHTA (http://www.eunethta.eu/news/wp4-ac-b-ca2-ant
ibacterial-coated-sutures-versus-non-antibacterial-coated-sutures-pre
vention-ab), a network, established to create an effective and
sustainable network for health technology assessment (HTA) across
Europe, issued an assessment on antibacterial-coated sutures which
found a statistically significant benefit of triclosan-coated sutures
in reducing the risk of total SSIs.[9]

Ethicon, makers of Plus Sutures, the only triclosan-coated sutures
available globally*** that inhibit colonization of the suture by
bacteria commonly associated with SSIs,[10],[11],[12],[13] is
committed to mitigating the burden of SSIs. "We want to see surgical
site infections drastically reduced to relieve unnecessary suffering
and reduce the associated costs for healthcare systems," said Silvia
De Dominicis, Ethicon Franchise Vice President for EMEA. "We believe
that all possible measures must be taken to help patients avoid SSIs
and we are dedicated to partnering with the healthcare community to
raise awareness, review the latest advancements and implement tactics
to address this critical issue."

Ethicon offers a comprehensive range of triclosan-coated, absorbable
sutures both in knotless and traditional variations. These have been
proven in vitro to inhibit colonization of the suture by bacteria
associated with SSIs.[10],[11],[12],[13]

Notes to editors

About Ethicon

From creating the first sutures, to revolutionizing surgery with
minimally invasive procedures, Ethicon has made significant
contributions to surgery for more than 60 years. Our continuing
dedication to Shape the Future of Surgery is built on our commitment
to help address the world's most pressing health care issues, and
improve and save more lives. Through Ethicon's surgical technologies
and solutions including sutures, staplers, energy devices, trocars
and hemostats and our commitment to treat serious medical conditions
like obesity and cancer worldwide, we deliver innovation to make a
life-changing impact. Follow us on Twitter @Ethicon
(https://twitter.com/Ethicon).

*Ethicon represents the products and services of Ethicon, Inc.,
Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC and certain of their affiliates.

**The Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies comprise the
surgery, orthopaedics, and cardiovascular businesses within Johnson &
Johnson's Medical Devices segment.

***There are no competitive triclosan coated sutures that have both
FDA clearance and CE Marked as of January 2017

References

1. Agodi A, et al. Risk of surgical site infection in older patients
in a cohort survey: targets for quality improvements in antibiotic
prophylaxis. Int Surg 2015;100:473-9.]

2. Crolla RM, et al. Reduction of surgical site infections after
implementation of a bundle of care. PLoS ONE 2012;7:e44599.]

3. Harrop JS, et al. Contributing factors to surgical site
infections. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2012;20:94-101.]

4. Ventola CL. The antibiotic resistance crisis: part 1: causes and
threats. PT 2015;40:277-83.]

5. Leaper DJ, et al. Surgical site infection - a European perspective
of incidence and economic burden. Int Wound J 2004;1:247-73.]

6. World Health Organization Global Guidelines for the Prevention of
Surgical Site Infection. Available at
http://www.who.int/gpsc/ssi-guidelines/en/ . Accessed June 2017

7. CDC Infection Prevention & Control Guidelines & Recommendations.
Available at
http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/fullarticle/2623725.
Accessed June 2017

8. Ban KA, et al. American College of Surgeons and Surgical Infection
Society: Surgical Site Infection Guidelines, 2016 Update. J Am Coll
Surg 2017;224:59-74.]

9. EUnetHTA Antibacterial-coated Sutures Versus
Non-Antibacterial-Coated Sutures for the Prevention of Abdominal,
Superficial and Deep Incisional. Available at http://www.eunethta.eu
/news/wp4-ac-b-ca2-antibacterial-coated-sutures-versus-non-antibacter
ial-coated-sutures-prevention-ab . Accessed June 2017

10. Storch ML, Rothenburger SJ, Jacinto G. Experimental efficacy
study of Coated VICRYLTM Plus Antibacterial Suture in guinea pigs
challenged with Staphylococcus aureus. Surg Infect (Larchmt).
2004;5(3):281-288.]

11. Rothenburger S, Spangler D, Bhende S, Burkely D. In vitro
antibacterial evaluation of Coated VICRYLTM Plus Antibacterial Suture
(coated polyglactin 910 with triclosan) using zone of inhibition
assays. Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2002;3(Suppl 1):S79-S87.]

12. Ming X, Rothenburger S, Yang D. In vitro antibacterial efficacy
of MONOCRYLTM Plus Antibacterial Suture (poliglecaprone 25 with
triclosan). Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2007;8(2):201-207.]

13. Ming X, Rothenburger S, Nichols M. In vivo and in vitro
antibacterial efficacy of PDSTM Plus (polidioxanone with triclosan)
Suture. Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2008;9(4):451-457.]

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stop-surgical-site-infection/)

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