Championship manager Terry Francona teams up with Covidien, APIC and Massachusetts Health Leaders for "Strike Out Infection" event at Boston's Fenway Park

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2008--Healthcare leaders in Massachusetts, together with championship baseball manager Terry Francona, met today at Fenway Park to discuss ways to reduce rates of deadly Staph infections in the state.

The discussion follows the recent launch of the Strike Out Infection campaign - a national initiative against Staph infections led by Francona in partnership with Covidien Ltd., a leading global healthcare products company based in Massachusetts, and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

In 2002, Francona contracted a Staph infection after routine surgery and became seriously ill. "Unfortunately, many people like me don't know about these infections or that there are ways to prevent them. That's why I'm partnering with Covidien and APIC to launch Strike Out Infection -- to raise awareness and educate people that there are ways to prevent infections," Francona said.

Staph infections are caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which generally enter the body through a cut or wound. In the community, these infections can be spread by a shared towel, razor or piece of sports equipment, or through skin-to-skin contact. An increasing number of Staph bacteria are now resistant to powerful antibiotics, such as methicillin, which has given rise to the deadly strain, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

The Strike Out Infection campaign features www.strikeoutinfection.com, an online resource where people can learn more about deadly infections, ways to prevent them and who is at risk of becoming infected.

Today's event in Boston, which was attended by nurses, infection control specialists, educators and athletic trainers, brings significant awareness to this issue. In addition to Francona, the panel of speakers at the meeting included Peter J. Koutoujian, House Chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Health; John Auerbach, M.D., M.P.H., Commissioner of the Department of Public Health; Maureen Spencer, R.N., M.Ed., CIC of APIC and Infection Control Manager, New England Baptist Hospital; David Fink, Covidien Director of Research and Development, Advanced Wound Care; and Alan Block, M.D., of Ohio State University Medical Center.

A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that, in 2005, there were 94,000 cases of invasive MRSA in the U.S. that caused nearly 19,000 deaths.(1) In 2007, APIC released results from the first nationwide MRSA prevalence study, which showed infection rates to be eight times greater than previous estimates. The APIC study was the first to measure rates of both MRSA infection and colonization (patients carrying and able to transmit MRSA) to determine MRSA prevalence more accurately.(2)

"Decreasing MRSA and other infections is a high priority in Boston, and there is already a lot of work under way on this front," said Spencer. "The continued collaboration of these healthcare leaders will be of paramount importance in fighting the spread of MRSA."

Surgeons and nurses take painstaking care preparing for surgery by following strict infection control procedures, including washing their hands, carefully preparing a sterile operating room environment, and ensuring the use of sterile surgical instruments and materials. It's important that people become informed about hospital infection prevention measures by asking their hospital questions about these programs and the professionals that lead them. Additionally, people should practice good hand hygiene and talk to their doctor about how to protect against infection, such as using antiseptic skin cleansers and antibiotic dressings that protect areas of the skin that have been injured.

"The Campaign to Strike-Out Infection represents an effort by public health stakeholders to raise awareness about the growing threat of staph infections while promoting innovative practices intended to reduce or eliminate them," Koutoujian said. "I am proud to support this effort."

"The emergence of infections that are resistant to numerous antibiotics has prompted researchers and infectious disease experts to mobilize and develop new and effective ways to prevent wound infections," said David Fink, Director of Research and Development, Covidien. "Through this partnership, we continue our dedication to leading the discussion about prevention of infectious disease and raising public awareness."

For more information on the Strike Out Infection campaign, including cities and dates for local awareness events, visit www.strikeoutinfection.com.

ABOUT APIC

APIC's mission is to improve health and patient safety by reducing risks of infection and other adverse outcomes. The Association's nearly 12,000 members have primary responsibility for infection prevention, control and hospital epidemiology in health care settings around the globe. APIC advances its mission through education, research, collaboration, practice guidance, public policy, and credentialing. Visit APIC online at www.apic.org.

ABOUT COVIDIEN LTD.

Covidien is a leading global healthcare products company that creates innovative medical solutions for better patient outcomes and delivers value through clinical leadership and excellence. Covidien manufactures, distributes and services a diverse range of industry-leading product lines in five segments: Medical Devices, Pharmaceutical Products, Imaging Solutions, Medical Supplies and Retail Products. With 2007 revenue of $10 billion, Covidien has more than 43,000 employees worldwide in 57 countries, and its products are sold in over 130 countries. Please visit www.covidien.com to learn more about our business.

(1) http://cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_Invasive_FS.html

(2) Jarvis, William R., Schlosser, JoAnn, Chinn, Raymond Y., Tweeten, Samantha, and Jackson, Marguerite, (2007). National prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in inpatients at US health care facilities, 2006. American Journal of Infection Control, 2007; 35: 631-637.

    CONTACT: David Young
             Media Relations Manager, Covidien
             508-261-6330
             david.young@covidien.com

    SOURCE: Covidien Ltd.