Rochester Medical Anti-Infection Foley Catheter Demonstrates Effectiveness

Rochester Medical Corporation published results from a significant clinical study which further demonstrates the effectiveness of the Company's proprietary Infection Control Technology.

The newly released September issue of the "Annals of Internal Medicine" presents results of a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial involving 212 adult patients at Denmark's Copenhagen Trauma Center. The study concluded nitrofurazone-impregnated urinary catheters reduced the incidence of catheter-associated bacteriuria and funguria in adult trauma patients, reducing the need to change or prescribe new antimicrobial therapy.

The nitrofurazone-impregnated urinary catheters used in the study were manufactured by Rochester Medical. The control catheter was an all-silicone Foley catheter. The study was conducted by Jakob Stensballe, PhD; Michael Tvede, MD; Dagnia Looms, PhD; Freddy Knudsen Lippert, MD; Benny Dahl, DMSc; Else Tonnesen, DMSc; and Lars Simon Rasmussen, PhD.

Commenting on the peer-reviewed publication of this clinical study, Rochester Medical's CEO and President - Anthony J. Conway said, "This is more good news in the ongoing effort to reduce serious infections in hospitals around the world. There is now published data from the United States, Denmark, South Korea, Spain, and Saudi Arabia showing the effectiveness of our All Silicone Anti-Infection Foley Catheters."

Conway continued, "Hospital acquired infections are a serious problem across the globe. In the United States alone it is estimated these infections cause over 90,000 deaths a year. The Center for Disease Control estimates 40% of all hospital acquired infections are urinary tract infections resulting from Foley catheterization.

As further demonstrated by Dr. Stensballe and his colleagues, these serious infections can be significantly reduced by use of our advanced Release-NF(R) technology. Our team at Rochester Medical is working vigorously to ensure clinicians throughout the world get the message about how our nitrofurazone-impregnated Foley catheters reduce infections. Some major medical institutions already are embracing these benefits and using the Rochester Medical Release-NF catheters."

Conway also noted, "Hospital acquired infections are coming under heightened scrutiny, with the aim that increased attention will lead to improvements and solutions. States are legislating that hospitals publicly post data defining their incidence of hospital acquired infections. Medicare recently finalized new reimbursement rules that will eliminate payments to hospitals to cover the cost of catheter-associated urinary tract infections.

"We believe Rochester Medical's All-Silicone Anti-Infection Foley catheters will play a pivotal role in helping reduce these infections. While costs can be significantly decreased, most importantly, serious illness can be prevented. It is very gratifying to continue to see new scientific studies that inform clinicians and reaffirm the effectiveness of our products. Everyone at Rochester Medical is very proud and motivated to be technology leaders in the crucial fight against hospital acquired infections."