Ecolab Inc. - Ecolab Healthcare Focuses on Infection Control and Environmental Cleanliness at APIC Annual Conference

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Ecolab Healthcare Focuses on Infection Control and Environmental Cleanliness at APIC Annual Conference

ST. PAUL, Minn., Jun 08, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Ecolab Inc. announced today that it has assembled a roster of renowned infectious disease practitioners to give presentations on the topics of environmental hygiene and hand hygiene at its booth during the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology Inc. (APIC) Annual Conference, June 7-11, 2009 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Renowned infection control expert Dr. Phillip C. Carling IV, Director of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology at Carney Hospital in Boston, heads up the roster of speakers. He is joined by Karen Martin, Director of Infection Control/Epidemiology and Environmental Services for Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill., and other noted infection control practitioners that will present at the Ecolab Healthcare booth (# 720) throughout the conference.

Ecolab Healthcare is focusing its efforts at the show on driving awareness of new approaches and innovations available to help healthcare facilities combat the spread of pathogens in hospitals that cause deadly infections.

"Environmental services has too long been overlooked as a method to reduce healthcare acquired infections despite the studies demonstrating that improperly cleaned patient rooms elevate the risk of pathogen transmission," said Dr. Carling. "Training, education and a systematic approach to cleaning have been shown to reduce environmental contamination, thereby helping to prevent these infections."

Featured presentations include:

"Patient Safety - The Role of Pathogen Contaminated Surfaces in the Transmission of HAIs" by Philip C. Carling, IV, MD, Infectious Disease Section, Carney Hospital, Boston.
"Systematic Approach to Improved Environmental Hygiene" by Karen Martin, Director of Infection Control/Epidemiology and Environmental Services, Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn, Ill.
"Multi-Modal Strategy for Hand Hygiene Measurement" by Gwen Stewart, RN, BSN, Infection Control Practitioner, Sibley Memorial Hospital, Washington, D.C.; and John Govednik, MS, Director of Training and Communications, McGuckin Methods International.

In addition, Ecolab scientists will be presenting two posters at the conference:

Evaluation of Quat Absorption and Efficacy of Cleaning Cloths by Linda E. Grieme, MS, Principal Microbiologist; Kirsten M. Thompson, BS, Technical Affairs Expert; Henry L. Carbone, II BSIME, MSEM, Senior Program Leader.
Evaluation of the use of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) in auditing patient room cleanliness by Angela R. Eder, PhD, Principal Chemist; Erin R. Brown, MS, Senior Chemist; Henry L. Carbone, II, BSIME, MSEM, Senior Program Leader; Kirsten M. Thompson, BS, Technical Affairs Expert.

"As new requirements for environmental cleaning are evolving and becoming more regulated, we continue to work with our customers to implement best practices not only in hand hygiene but in environmental cleaning, a long-standing area of expertise for our company," said Paul B. Chaffin, Vice President for Ecolab Healthcare NA.

With sales of $6 billion and more than 26,000 associates, Ecolab Inc. (NYSE: ECL) is the global leader in cleaning, sanitizing, food safety and infection prevention products and services. Ecolab delivers comprehensive programs and services to foodservice, food and beverage processing, healthcare, and hospitality markets in more than 160 countries. More news and information is available at www.ecolab.com.

(ECL-C)

SOURCE: Ecolab Inc.

Ecolab Inc.
Jennifer Kirscher, 651-293-2846

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