Independent Study Finds Significant Decrease in Post-Operative Joint Infections with AQUACEL® Ag SURGICAL Cover Dressing

07 April 2017

• New published data, reviewed at 30th Anniversary SAWC Spring/WHS Meeting, strengthen body of evidence showing significant reductions in surgical site infections (SSIs) with use of AQUACEL^® Ag SURGICAL cover dressing

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA (7 April 2017) — Convatec Group Plc (“Convatec”), a leading global medical technology company, will highlight new data¹  supporting the use of AQUACEL^®  Ag SURGICAL cover dressing for reducing surgical site infections (SSIs) at the  30^th  Anniversary Symposium on Advanced Wound Care Spring / Wound Healing Society (SAWC Spring / WHS) meeting here tomorrow. 

Results of the independent study, published in The Journal of Arthroplasty and to be reviewed in a Convatec-sponsored symposium at the meeting, found a four-fold decrease in the incidence of post-operative joint infections with the use of AQUACEL^®  Ag SURGICAL cover dressing, compared with a standard gauze dressing.¹

 Surgical site infections (SSIs) such as post-operative joint infections can be devastating to a patient’s health and costly for health care providers, contributing to readmissions to surgery.  According to study authors, a four-fold decrease in rates of this type of SSI could result in about 10,000 fewer cases and up to $500 million in potential cost savings per year in the U.S.¹

 “A substantial proportion of post-operative complications leading to readmission are associated with surgical site infection (SSI),” said Bidhan Das, MD, Colon & Rectal Clinic of Houston, The Methodist Hospital, Texas. “Interventions that can control the infection rate will lead to cost savings in the short-term, while also achieving long-term savings in routine dressing costs and nursing time.”

About the Study

 In the new retrospective study, researchers at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia Medical Center reviewed the charts of 1,173 joint replacement patients who underwent total hip or knee surgery from 2007-2015. All of the procedures were performed by a single surgeon, who switched from using a standard gauze dressing to AQUACEL^®  Ag SURGICAL cover dressing in 2011.¹

 The results of the study found an incidence of post-operative joint infection of 1.58% in the standard gauze group compared to an incidence of 0.33% in the AQUACEL^® Ag SURGICAL group, with a high level of confidence and statistical significance (P = .03).¹

 The symposium at SAWC Spring / WHS meeting will also review the results of previous studies, supported by Convatec, finding a near four-fold reduction in post-operative joint infection as well as reductions in other complications, such as skin blistering, and improvement in patient satisfaction, with the use of AQUACEL^®  Ag SURGICAL cover dressing.^{1, 2}

 “These independent study results are a tremendous validation of the earlier findings from our sponsored studies, supporting the use of AQUACEL^®  Ag SURGICAL cover dressing for the reduction of SSIs,” said Fiona Adam, Vice President and General Manager of Advanced Wound Care.   “With the recent addition of AQUACEL^®  Ag SURGICAL SP dressings, ideal for other types of surgical sites such as c-sections and lumbar spine surgeries, along with our full range of advanced wound and skin care products, Convatec is demonstrating our commitment to helping our customers reduce the burden of these avoidable infections and helping patients resume their daily lives.”

Convatec is exhibiting its full portfolio of advanced wound and skin care products at the SAWC Spring/WHS meeting, including the new Foam Lite™ Convatec dressing for low to non-exuding superficial wounds, the latest addition to the company’s growing family of Foam dressings, and new Sensi-Care^®  Skin Protectant Incontinence Wipes, part of an expanded portfolio for skin protection.

 For more information about Convatec’s full portfolio of advanced wound and skin care products, visit www.convatec.com or call Convatec customer service at 1-800-422-8811.

About Convatec
Convatec is a global medical products and technologies company focused on therapies for the management of chronic conditions. The Company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (stock symbol: CTEC) and has leading market positions in advanced wound care, ostomy care, continence and critical care, and infusion devices. Convatec's products provide a range of clinical and economic benefits, including infection prevention, protection of at-risk skin, improved patient outcomes and reduced total cost of care. www.convatecgroup.com

 AQUACEL, Foam Lite and Sensi-Care are trademarks of Convatec Inc.

© 2017 Convatec Inc.

AP-017638-US

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1 Grosso M. et al. Silver-Impregnated Occlusive Dressing Reduces Rates of Acute Periprosthetic Joint Infection After Total Joint Arthroplasty. J. Arthroplasy 32 (2017) 929-932.

2 Cai J. et al, Aquacel Surgical Dressing Reduces the Rate of Acute PJI Following Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Case-Control Study. J Arthroplasty (2014).

3 Springer B et al. Role of Surgical Dressings in Total Joint Arthroplasty; A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Orthopedics (2015)

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