B Braun - Infection Control, Wound Care, Instrument Preparation and Surface Disinfection

B. Braun Medical is a global supplier of infection control, hygiene products and targeted educational programs to increase the protection of patients and healthcare professionals. Our key products are hand disinfectants and skin cleansing products, wound irrigation and antisepsis including povidone-iodine, instrument preparation and surface disinfectants.

HAND DISINFECTANTS AND SKIN CLEANSING PRODUCTS

B. Braun has developed and implemented a simple concept for professional hand hygiene: optimally coordinated infection control products guarantee a high level of skin tolerance. Whenever possible, infection risks such as fragrances and colouring agents are avoided or selected for their low allergic potential. The products are easily distinguished through pictograms and specific colours on the product labels.

B.Braun aims to offer increased infection control support to hospitals and residential nursing homes. Our "Prontoderm®" system was developed specifically for the decontamination of MRSA carriers. We offer a new and complete concept in infection control to ensure efficient hygiene. These new products complement our range of cleansing solutions, disinfectants and skincare products. New hygiene and disinfection products like Softalind® ViscoRub gel improve application compliance, or address critical infection control issues such as bird flu with our new Softa-Man® acute virucidal.

WOUND IRRIGATION AND ANTISEPSIS - POVIDONE-IODINE

B. Braun's wound irrigation and antisepsis concepts provide individual solutions for the treatment of acute and chronic wounds, adapted to the needs of the patient. These products include treatments based on povidone-iodine for wound antisepsis and the new range of "Prontosan®" products developed for wound irrigation and for wound bed preparation.

The latter products contain a surfactant to efficiently eliminate wound coatings and biofilm, thus accelerating the healing process. Compared to rival products, Prontosan® demonstrates superior cleansing activity and simultaneously eliminates unpleasant wound odours. As it contains a preservative, the solution can be used for up to eight weeks after the container has been opened.

Povidone-iodine is ideal for acute infection treatment. It is effective against bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa and spores, and standardised solutions as Braunol® show no bacterial resistance. B. Braun also supplies povidone-iodine as aqueous solution, ointment and ointment gauze. Brown iodine is consumed during the oxidation of germs and is effective as long as the brownish colour can be recognised. Thus one knows when to change the wound dressing.

MANUAL AND MECHANICAL SURGICAL INSTRUMENT PREPARATION

Surgical instrument preparation places very high demands on process, personnel and products. The preparation of instruments covers individual steps such as cleaning, disinfection, rinsing and drying. B. Braun specialises in the manual and machine processing of instruments.

We provide advisory services on hygienic and processing procedures, and specialised training courses for sterilisation assistants. B. Braun is able to combine complex principles from technology, material properties and the chemistry of the cleaning process on an interdisciplinary basis for customer benefit - delivering products suitable for every step of the instrument preparation process.

SURFACE DISINFECTANTS PROTECT PATIENTS AND PERSONNEL

The latest scientific research demonstrates that there may be a connection between bacterial surface infection and patient infection. Experts therefore recommend surface disinfection to protect personnel and patients. Successful surface disinfection depends on parameters such as exposure time, product concentration and the product's bacterial spectra.

Aqueous disinfectant concentrates clean and disinfect in one step and are suitable for daily routine disinfection of large surfaces. Surface disinfection can be achieved in small areas with fast-acting, broad-spectrum, alcohol-based disinfectants. B. Braun provides a choice of disinfection products for different environments and bacterial spectra with short acting times.

WHO CAMPAIGN - CLEAN CARE IS SAFER CARE

"Disinfectant must be available at the point of care" is the catchphrase of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Patient Safety Campaign. Our user-friendly, innovative and practical hygiene dispensing units increase compliance and make the product available wherever needed. 'The clip,' for example, allows a small bottle to hang from a pocket, making the disinfectant readily available. Further accessories include wall dispensers and dosing pumps.