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AliMed Offers Hundreds of Healthcare Products That Feature AgION(R) Antimicrobial Surface Protection

Posted on: Wednesday, 15 November 2006, 15:00 CST

AliMed, a leading manufacturer and supplier of high-quality products to the healthcare industry, today announced that it offers hundreds of products featuring the AgION® antimicrobial available to its customers at healthcare facilities worldwide. The company's new product catalog features both AgION's SilverClene24TM disinfectant along with a wide array of proprietary products and solutions from leading manufacturers that incorporate the innovative antimicrobial. The antimicrobial, developed by AgION Technologies, Inc., is based on naturally-occurring silver which reduces surface contamination by inhibiting the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, mold and fungus.

"Controlling bacteria and contaminants is a top priority for healthcare managers," said Mark Olken, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at AliMed, Inc. "Bacterial and viral infections, mold, and mildew can cost both in terms of patient and staff health and other treatment expenses. Silver-based antimicrobials improve surface protection by inhibiting microbial growth and contamination, providing an extra margin of safety. Offering AgION's antimicrobial solution is an ideal choice for us because it is proven to be effective and long-lasting and they are among the few antimicrobials registered as safe for patient and healthcare provider contact."

Surface contamination is a growing concern for healthcare providers worldwide. A new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine concluded that environmental contamination by MRSA and VRE pathogens remains a concern in spite of disinfection practices which surpass national standards. The authors found occupants of a previously contaminated room had a 40 percent increased chance of contracting MRSA and/or VRE, "strongly suggesting a role for environmental contamination, despite room cleaning methods that exceeded national standards."1

AgION's newly launched SilverClene24 is a liquid disinfectant and virucide that provides 24-hour protection against a wide range of bacteria, mold and fungi. In addition to being effective for up to 24 hours, the disinfectant is colorless, odorless, non-corrosive, non-flammable and does not produce irritating fumes. SilverClene24 is effective against over 100 strains of bacteria, mold and fungi, including MSRA, HIV, influenza and Rhinovirus. The product can kill bacteria in as little as 30 seconds and can eliminate viruses and fungus in ten minutes.

AgION's other antimicrobial products can be incorporated into a coating or directly into the product and is comprised of naturally-occurring silver ions. Silver has long been recognized for its antimicrobial properties and humans have used silver for thousands of years to combat a wide range of microbes. The AgION antimicrobial provides continuous and long-lasting protection from microbes by releasing silver ions at a slow and steady rate. This creates a self-cleaning surface that provides safe, continuous, long-term protection from microbes. Studies have shown that surfaces treated with AgION's antimicrobial result in a 99.99 percent reduction in the number of microbes within a one-hour period than what is normally found on untreated surfaces.2

"We are excited that AliMed has decided to sell our SilverClene24 and selected our natural antimicrobial compound as a key component for so many of its own healthcare products," said Ginger Merritt, Vice President of Worldwide Marketing at AgION Technologies, Inc. "Surfaces within hospital and healthcare environments have been shown to harbor microbes from several hours to several days. AgION's antimicrobial will help decrease the number of potentially dangerous microbes on the treated surfaces of products in a naturally safe manner."

About AliMed, Inc.

Since its inception in the early 1970s, AliMed® Inc. has grown to become a leading manufacturer, designer, and distributor of OR, critical care, surgical, diagnostic imaging, patient care, rehabilitation, and ergonomic products. AliMed is committed to promoting health and wellness by providing high-quality, healthcare supplies in a cost-effective manner. A comprehensive selection of AliMed products is available online at www.AliMed.com.

About AgION Technologies, Inc.

AgION Technologies, located in Wakefield, Massachusetts, is a leader in providing customized antimicrobial solutions based on silver that continuously inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold and fungus. AgION's antimicrobial technology is used in the consumer products, construction, food and water, textiles, and healthcare industries and has been incorporated into a variety of products including cell phones, shoes, keyboards, pens, water filters, air conditioning and heating units, medical catheters, ice machines and faucet handles. The company also offers a disinfectant and virucide, AgION SilverClene24™, which has been proven effective against a variety of bacteria and viruses including HIV-1, Rhinovirus, Influenza, and Poliovirus. AgION's customers include many leading brands such as Motorola, Logitech, AK Steel, Carrier, DuPont, Honeywell, Adidas, Sanford/Paper Mate, Ice-O-Matic, Scotsman, Stanley Bostitch and Oster. Since the company's founding in 1997, AgION Technologies has led the market for safe, effective, long-lasting, antimicrobial protection with support from private equity funds and strategic partners including BASF Venture Capital, H.B. Fuller Ventures, SAM Private Equity, Motorola Ventures and Paladin Capital Group. For more information about AgION Technologies, visit www.agion-tech.com.

1 "Risk of Acquiring Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria from Prior Room Occupant"; Susan S. Huang, MD, et al; Archives of Internal Medicine; 2006; Vol. 166, 1945-1951.

2 "Rapid Reduction of S. aureus populations on SS surfaces by zeolite ceramic coatings containing silver and zinc ions", K. R. Bright, et al., University of Arizona, Journal of Hospital Infection (2002) 52:307-309.

Source: Business Wire

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