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3M Health Care Launches Medical Diagnostics Business

Posted on: Monday, 12 March 2007, 09:00 CDT

3M Health Care announced today the launch of a new Medical Diagnostics business unit that will focus on developing and commercializing rapid diagnostic product solutions for the detection of key infectious pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other treatment-resistant microbes.

This new business builds on 3M Health Care's leading infection prevention product portfolio by offering hospitals new rapid diagnostic tests to detect the presence of potentially destructive microbes before they spread and possibly infect patients. 3M Medical Diagnostics will provide hospitals with rapid, easy-to-use microbial diagnostic tests that may help improve patient outcomes, reduce costs, reduce the impact of resistant microbes and improve laboratory profitability.

"3M Medical Diagnostics is a natural extension of our infection prevention platform and enables us to offer hospitals a full spectrum of products that detect, prevent and treat infections in the hospital setting," said Angela Dillow, Ph.D., global business manager, 3M Medical Diagnostics. "We see many market trends pointing to the need for rapid, easy-to-use microbial diagnostics that will aid in the prevention and control of infections in hospitals in the United States and abroad."

For example, in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that approximately 90,000 deaths annually are attributable to hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections(1). New guidelines were issued by the CDC in October 2006, outlining strategies to prevent the spread of drug-resistant infections in health care settings. The screening of patients at high risk for carrying drug-resistant bacteria was recommended for health care facilities that do not improve their health care-associated infection (HCAI) rates.

In the United States, current infection prevention patient screening activities include no screening at all, traditional cultures which provide results in 48 hours or expensive molecular diagnostics. 3M plans to introduce new rapid diagnostic products that will simplify the diagnostic testing process and provide more rapid results than traditional microbiology tests for the detection of key microbes such as Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA and Influenza A and B.

3M's rapid diagnostic tests, expected in 2007, will allow physicians to make informed medical decisions on behalf of their patients, while hospital labs will be able to reduce the amount of hands-on time conducting these tests, which may lead to reduced health care costs and improved laboratory profitability.

HCAIs remain a persistent challenge for hospitals worldwide. A prevalence survey conducted under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 55 hospitals of 14 countries, representing four WHO Regions (Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia and Western Pacific), showed an average of 8.7 percent of hospital patients had nosocomial infections. At any time, over 1.4 million people worldwide suffer from infectious complications acquired in hospitals(2).

About 3M Health Care

Since inventing Ioban incise antimicrobial surgical drapes more than 30 years ago, 3M has been a worldwide leader in developing health care products and services that address infection prevention and control. 3M Health Care, one of 3M's six major business segments, is dedicated to improving the practice, delivery and outcome of patient care and is a leading provider of solutions for medical, dental, orthodontic and health information markets. Ioban is a trademark of 3M.

About 3M - A Global, Diversified Technology Company

Every day, 3M people find new ways to make amazing things happen. Wherever they are, whatever they do, the company's customers know they can rely on 3M to help make their lives better. 3M's brands include Scotch, Post-it, Scotchgard, Thinsulate, Scotch-Brite, Filtrete, Command and Vikuiti. Serving customers in more than 200 countries around the world, the people of 3M use their expertise, technologies and global strength to lead in major markets including consumer and office; display and graphics; electronics and telecommunications; safety, security and protection services; health care; industrial and transportation. For more information, including the latest product and technology news, visit www.3M.com.

Scotch, Post-it, Scotchgard, Thinsulate, Scotch-Brite, Filtrete, Command and Vikuiti are trademarks of 3M.

(1) AJIC: American Journal of Infection Control. 33(4):217-226, May 2005

(2) PREVENTION OF HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE -- WHO/CDS/CSR/EPH/2002.12

Source: Business Wire

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