USA —3M Health Care, a subsidiary of 3M Company (MMM), has announced the launch of its latest product, the 3M SoluPrep S Sterile Antiseptic Solution.
This product is a chlorhexidine gluconate (2% w/v) and isopropyl alcohol (70% v/v) Patient Preoperative Skin Preparation solution.
The SoluPrep S Sterile Antiseptic Solution has been designed to provide rapid and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity (in vitro) while maintaining consistency in healthy human volunteers for at least 96 hours post-prep.
The solution helps users to ensure complete coverage of the surgical prep area. The applicator of the solution is user-friendly, and it covers a larger area compared to the 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) + 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA) (CHG/IPA) surgical prep product with the same applicator size.
Moreover, the applicator can be activated easily, and the solution’s foam sponge minimizes drips by controlling the flow of the solution. The solution contains an ingredient that can enhance incise drape adherence.
Sterile antiseptics are crucial in preventing the spread of infectious diseases and ensuring patient safety. Antiseptics are substances used to kill microorganisms on living tissues or surfaces, and they play a critical role in reducing the risk of infection in hospitals and other healthcare settings.
However, it is important to understand that antiseptics are not inherently sterile and can become contaminated with bacteria over time.
Contaminated antiseptics can cause serious harm to patients by introducing harmful bacteria into wounds or other vulnerable areas of the body.
Unfortunately, there have been numerous outbreaks of infections worldwide due to contaminated antiseptics, including patient skin antiseptics and surface disinfectants.
In some cases, these outbreaks have been linked to persistent bacteria that can survive in antiseptic solutions for prolonged periods.
For example, in 2010, an outbreak of patient infections occurred as a result of contaminated alcohol prep pads.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also reported that all commonly used antiseptic categories have been linked to infection-causing contamination.
Given the potential risks associated with contaminated antiseptics, it is essential to ensure that antiseptic solutions are properly sterilized and free from harmful bacteria.
The 3M SoluPrep S Sterile Antiseptic Solution is ideal for use by O.R. nurses, surgeons, and infection preventionists who aim to safely, efficiently, and confidently prepare patient skin before surgery to reduce bacteria on the skin that can cause skin infection.
The limited commercial availability of this solution in the United States will begin on April 3, 2023. The complete commercial launch is scheduled for 2024.
3M’s latest product aims to address the need for effective and efficient preoperative skin preparation solutions.
The solution’s applicator design and its active ingredients can provide greater coverage and help reduce the risk of skin infections during surgery.
With the increasing demand for effective solutions that can help minimize the risk of healthcare-associated infections, 3M SoluPrep S Sterile Antiseptic Solution has the potential to become a valuable tool in preventing surgical site infections.
In separate news, 3M Company announced its plans to spin off its healthcare business into a separate listed company.
The move is part of a larger trend among U.S. manufacturers to streamline their operations and improve investor returns.
The healthcare unit, which accounted for around a quarter of 3M’s US$35.35 billion in sales in 2021, will become a public company, with 3M retaining a stake of 19.9%.
The new company will focus on wound care, oral care, and healthcare technology. 3M expects to complete the spinoff by the end of 2023.
The decision to spin off the healthcare business follows a bankruptcy protection filing by 3M’s unit that produces earplugs for the U.S. military.
The company faces more than 290,000 claims from current and former military members who say the earplugs are defective and have caused hearing damage.
This move also reflects a growing consensus among U.S. companies that a streamlined focus results in improved performance.
There has also been increasing pressure from activist investors to boost shareholder returns. As a result, more companies are looking to break up their businesses and create separate entities that can focus on specific products or markets.
By focusing on specific markets, companies can be more agile and responsive to changing customer needs, which can ultimately result in improved financial performance.
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