Health care-associated infections represent a huge burden for health systems worldwide, affecting millions of patients and leading to higher costs, increased mortality and prolonged hospital stays.
In the UK, incidences of cross-infections are believed to be under-reported and represent significant costs to the NHS, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), ranging from £2,100 to £10,500 per infection depending on the nature of the surgery.
As healthcare practitioners seek efficiencies to reduce costs across the board without compromising on patient safety or efficiency, UK-based manufacturer Eakin Surgical are helping to make operations safer through the provision of high-quality single-use solutions than can dramatically reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
Prevention consultant Kathy Arias, MS, CIC, explains: “The threat of cross-contamination of medical devices is very real, and we’ve known this for a long time. In fact, one of the first articles on how cross-contamination of medical devices can transmit infection was written back in 1978. And with the rise of dangerous multi-drug-resistant organisms, the dangers of transmitting infection by cross-contamination are now even greater. The chief advantage of disposable medical devices is that they prevent transmission of disease as long as they’re used on only one patient.”
Eakin Surgical, formerly known as Single Use Surgical, was founded twenty years ago as a direct response to the cleaning practices of surgical instruments. Local hospitals identified that fine lumen suction tubes used in surgery posed a high risk of patient-to-patient cross-infection due to being too difficult to clean.
In response, the company developed one of the most comprehensive ranges of single use suction tubes in collaboration with clinicians. Each instrument has been designed to capture the same look, feel and functionality of their reusable equivalent, while at the same time ensuring cost and efficiency savings.
Headquartered in Cardiff, today the company’s mission is to enable safer operations and improved patient outcomes through the provision of high-quality surgical solutions.
Growth and development
Today, Eakin Surgical are part of Eakin Healthcare Group, established since 1974 with an extensive heritage and experience in the UK manufacturing and supply of medical products to the healthcare industry. Their vision is to put safety first, while providing sustainable outcome-led solutions that can be used in operating rooms worldwide to address modern healthcare challenges.
As part of the national response to COVID-19, the company recently partnered with global supplier Survitec to package and sterilise 1.92 million items of PPE to protect healthcare workers. Business Development Manager, Michael Denver, says: “It is an absolute pleasure to support the national effort for PPE. Due to the time scales involved, we have worked together to complete a year’s worth of work in five weeks. This is a new venture for us, but we were able to leverage our capabilities as a manufacturer of single-use surgical equipment to support the project.”
As a manufacturer of single-use instruments, Eakin Surgical’s aims have been to help clinicians protect patients by providing assurances of instrument performance and sterility. With the associated environmental impact of single-use devices, eco awareness and sustainability remain part of the company’s core values.
Over the past five years Eakin Surgical have significantly reduced their carbon footprint through their supply chain. The company have invested in green energy, recyclable packaging, and reduced product waste from their manufacturing process to 0.03%.
All products manufactured by Eakin Surgical are certified to ISO 13485, Directive 93/42/EEC and FDA approved.
To find out more, visit www.eakinsurgical.com
