3M Introduces New Mesh Dressing to Fight Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

       3M announces the launch of 3M^TM Tegaderm^TM Ag Mesh Dressing with Silver, a new wound care product with fast-acting, long-lasting antimicrobial barrier effectiveness against a wide range of microbes, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE).
       The versatile Tegaderm Ag Mesh Dressing is a familiar, gauze-like porous material, which may be used as a primary dressing with absorbent wound fillers or packed into tunnels or undermined areas. The product is safe (ie, noncytotoxic and nonirritating with minimal to no skin staining), easy to use, conformable, and soft, requiring no pre-moistening on draining wounds.
       The cost-effective Tegaderm Ag Mesh dressing provides a 7-day antimicrobial barrier for a variety of wounds, especially those that have stalled or are slow to heal, including: pressure, venous, and neuropathic (diabetic) ulcers; surgical wounds; second-degree burns; traumatic wounds; donor sites; and abrasions. It is available in 5 sizes, from 2x2 inches to 16x16 inches.
       For more information, visit http://www.3M.com/Tegaderm.

SilverSneakers Fitness Program Decreases Healthcare Costs by Increasing Physical Activity

       The nation’s leading exercise program designed exclusively for older adults decreases healthcare costs by increasing physical activity. The SilverSneakers^® Fitness Program, currently offered in 31 states in over 1,100 fitness centers and class sites, increases physical activity among Medicare beneficiaries while focusing on this population’s unique health and physical needs.
       The award-winning SilverSneakers program, which includes a free fitness center membership as well as customized classes, shows that the benefits of physical activity for older adults extend well beyond better health, improved cognitive function, and increased quality of life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, increased physical activity could reduce direct medical costs by at least $77 billion annually. Inactive adults have significantly higher direct medical costs than do active adults, and the costs associated with physical activity increase with age.
       Despite evidence of the benefits of regular physical activity for older adults, most do not achieve recommended levels. The proportion of SilverSneakers members accumulating 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times per week increased from 50% to 74% after joining the program.
       The SilverSneakers program, a unique physical activity, lifestyle, and socially oriented benefit program, was designed to encourage Medicare-eligible individuals to increase their levels of physical activity and motivate them stay active. As of July 2005, the SilverSneakers program is offered at no additional cost to nearly 1.8 million individuals eligible for Medicarea.
       For more information, call 800-295-4993 or visit http://www.silversneakers.com.

Coloplast Skin Health Division Introduces Clear Barrier Ointments

       Coloplast Corp.’s Skin Health Division announces the introduction to the United States market of Critic-Aid^® Clear, a clear moisture barrier ointment, and Critic-Aid^® Clear AF, a clear antifungal moisture barrier ointment with 2% miconazole nitrate.
       Critic-Aid Clear is a product clinicians can count on to stick, protect, and inspect. It will stick to intact skin as well as wet, denuded skin. It will protect perineal skin from moisture, while allowing the clinician to inspect the skin’s condition.
       This new perineal skin injury product will help healthcare institutions maintain the bottom line by eliminating multiple product choices and barriers. Critic Aid Clear and Critic Aid Clear AF are available in a 2-oz, 2.5-oz, 5-oz, and 6-oz sizes as well as in single-use packets.
       For more information or to review the full line of Coloplast Skin Health Division’s products, call 800-533-0464 or visit http://www.us.coloplast.com.