Product News

Hand-Washing Timer
Puts OR Team on the Clock
Attach this slick timer to any standard sink faucet to ensure your staff rinse, lather and wash their hands for the full 20 seconds recommended by the CDC to avoid the spread of harmful bacteria. The SaniTimer automatically begins a 30-second countdown — the extra 10 seconds account for an individual's preferred hand-wash prep — shown on an easy-to-read LED display as soon as the water is turned on. At the end of the cycle, the SaniTimer beeps to alert the washer and resets itself to 30 seconds for the next user.
sanitimer.com • $99 each, with quantity discounts available

Antimicrobial Scrubs
Stylish scrubs that fight disease, too? Yes, that's the promise of LifeThreads, scrubs and other textiles that are treated with an antimicrobial active ingredient that protects the fabric from harmful pathogens. LifeThreads incorporates zinc pyrithione into the textile during the manufacturing process. Zinc pyrithione is a fungistatic and bacteriostatic substance used in the manufacture of common dandruff shampoos and for the treatment of psoriasis, eczema and dry skin. The company says the antimicrobial additive doesn't wash off and lasts for the life of the product. The fluid-repellant LifeThreads product line includes lab coats, scrubs, scrub warm-up jackets and patient gowns; the company plans to include bed linens and privacy curtains later this year.
life-threads.com • $8 to $25 each

The Many Benefits of
Single-Use Laryngoscope Blades
A switch to single-use laryngoscope blades can save your facility the time and expense of reprocessing and repair while reducing the risk of cross-contamination during intubation, says Precision Medical Devices, whose disposable, surgical-grade stainless steel blades, available in a full range of Macintosh and Miller sizes and with LED or fiber-optic illumination, are designed to fit any laryngoscope handle on the market. A study of anesthetists doing rapid-sequence intubation (tinyurl.com/k9stax6) shows that single-use steel blades deliver better first-attempt success rates than reusable metal ones.
pmdmfg.com • $160 per box of 20 blades