ORANGEBURG, N.Y., Jan. 13, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- An outbreak of "Nightmare Bacteria," also known as the "Super Bug," has raised new alarm bells in the healthcare industry over patient safety. The concern stems from 44 newly reported cases of cross-contamination infections as a result of endoscopic procedures done at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, located just outside of Chicago.*
"This type of outbreak not only undermines patient confidence, it creates stiff potential financial liabilities for hospitals and other healthcare facilities under the Affordable Care Act," said Howard Zauberman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vision-Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:VSCI) – a company specializing in endoscopes that help safeguard patients from cross-contamination infections caused by conventional endoscopes.
Vision-Sciences (www.visionsciences.com) provides patented technology solutions that safeguard patients with a sterile cover, or EndoSheath® Technology, for its endoscopes. This prevents direct contact of the scope with the patient and reduces the risk of contracting infections from bacteria such as the Nightmare Bacteria as a result of endoscopic cross-contamination. In 20 years and with over 5 million procedures performed with EndoSheath® Technology, Vision-Sciences has never received a report of cross-contamination.
"We feel confident that our EndoSheath® Technology is a win-win for the healthcare facility and its patients. It is in our best interest to ensure that all healthcare professionals are aware of this alternative to conventional endoscopes while offering a cost cutting and liability reducing solution," said Lewis C. Pell, Chairman and Co-founder of Vision-Sciences.
Mr. Pell and Mr. Zauberman are available for in-person meetings or phone interviews. Please contact Mitch Kayden at (845) 709-5607 for more information and to set up an interview.
Important Summary Points
-- The Affordable Care Act creates potential liability for all healthcare facilities for hospital-acquired infections. Vision Sciences® technology offers an option for hospitals to reduce liability and lower costs/overhead.
-- EndoSheath® Technology eliminates the lengthy and costly cleaning and sterilization process required between each use for conventional endoscopes.
-- Important notes about a Vision-Sciences procedure:
- An endoscope is placed inside a new, sterile sheath.
- The endoscope itself never comes in contact with the patient at any point.
- Following the patient procedure, the endoscope is removed from the sheath, which is then discarded.
- The sheath plus our rapid cleaning procedure eliminates the need for time-consuming, toxic high-level disinfection/sterilization between each use.
-- FDA cleared EndoSheath® Technology as an alternative to the lengthy and costly disinfecting and sterilization procedures required for conventional endoscopes.
-- CDC endorsed FDA clearance of EndoSheath® Technology as recently as of July 2013.
About Vision-Sciences, Inc.
Vision-Sciences, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures and markets products for flexible endoscopy. The Company's unique product lines feature a streamlined visualization system and proprietary sterile disposable microbial barrier, known as EndoSheath® technology, providing users with efficient and cost effective endoscope turnover while enhancing patient safety. Information about Vision-Sciences' products is available at www.visionsciences.com.
Vision-Sciences owns the trademarks Vision Sciences™ and Slide-On™ and the registered trademarks EndoSheath®, EndoWipe® and The Vision System®.