BD Adds Surveillance Capability to Infectious Disease...( ...),Health

SPARKS, Md., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BD Diagnostics, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), announced today the expansion of its portfolio of tools to prevent and control infectious diseases by adding software systems for the surveillance of infections and associated risk factors among patients and healthcare workers, and in the community.

Through the acquisition of ICPA, Inc., a privately held corporation based in Austin, TX, BD adds a proprietary software system with the ability to track and monitor emerging infection issues.

"This strategic expansion of BD's portfolio enables us to provide a set of integrated information solutions to clinicians striving to reduce the incidence and transmission of infections in their facilities," said Philippe Jacon, President of BD Diagnostics - Diagnostic Systems.

BD provides products throughout the continuum of infection prevention and control. These include safety-engineered collection devices, rapid assays to detect the presence of infectious organisms, and devices to reduce the risk of infections and enable the timely delivery of appropriate, directed therapies.

ICPA's AICE(R) software uses an integrated data warehouse to generate alerts that signal emerging infection control issues. By providing automated, evidence-based surveillance capabilities, the system makes it easier for infection preventionists to focus on implementing processes and interventions that can help prevent the incidence and transmission of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). AICE software tracks emerging drug-resistant organisms and the incidence of HAIs. It also supports compliance with mandated infection reporting requirements by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prev
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