The product rollout is being featured at the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) 2003 Educational Conference and International Meeting in San Antonio, TX June 8 through 12.

There are three wearable hand sanitizer models in the Sprixx line. The stylish Sprixxer XE looks like a beeper, comes in 5 colors, and takes an economical replacement cartridge. The Sprixx HP is a holster with a 2.36 fl. oz. spray bottle that is best for heavier use. The light, unobtrusive Sprixx LT is a half-ounce spray bottle with a convenient, reusable clip. The alcohol sanitizer is formulated for repeated professional use, has a light scent, uses the proven germ-killing power of 63% ethyl alcohol, and includes protective emollients to soothe hard working hands.

Invented by Ventura, CA physician James Villaveces, M.D., Sprixx has been in development for two years. "Health care and other professionals need better hand hygiene tools," says Dr. Villaveces. "Before now, achieving 100% hand hygiene while meeting the real world demands on today's health care workers was impossible. With Sprixx, hands will no longer be a part of the deadly chain of infection."

Wearable dispensing is the next logical breakthrough in hand sanitation. In the newly updated guidelines for hand hygiene in health care settings, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends alcohol-based hand rubs as the primary hand hygiene agent for the sake of time, hand health, and effectiveness. The CDC guidelines go on to recommend making alcohol sanitizers "readily accessible" and carrying individual pocket-sized containers. Wearable, personal dispensing achieves the CDC's goal for accessibility.

"It has to always be within reach, super easy to use, and become second nature," explains Denise Bleak, Infection Control Disease Coordinator at Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC). "Sprixx is a health care worker's friend because it makes 100% hand hygiene possible and frees the workers' time and focus for other things." Bleak and VCMC have been field-testing the Sprixx dispensers for more than a year.

According to the CDC, nosocomial infection, infection contracted inside hospitals, is the fourth leading cause of death - claiming 104,000 lives annually - and hand hygiene is the number one line of defense. Twenty thousand deaths annually are specifically attributed to hand-transmitted infection in hospitals alone. That is more than HIV claims each year. "Hand hygiene must evolve," explains Villaveces. "A wearable dispenser is a breakthrough in a 150-year old struggle."

The medical industry is the first rollout and target market for the Sprixx product line. Other markets will be addressed, including long-term care, childcare, emergency response, foodservice, airlines, travel, and other industries.

APIC has more than 12,000 members who work mostly in hospitals and medical centers. For more information about APIC visit http://www.apic.org or call 202-789-1890.

Sprixx is a DBA of Harbor Medical, Inc., of Santa Barbara, CA.

URL: www.sprixx.com

Source of news: Sprixx, a DBA of Harbor Medical, Inc.