Ansell Extends Success of AMT Antimicrobial Technology for Surgical Gloves With Introduction in Europe

BRUSSELS, REDBANK, New Jersey and MELBOURNE, Australia, November 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Global leader in healthcare protection and safety solutions lands CE Mark for GAMMEX® Powder-Free Gloves with AMT Antimicrobial Technology.

One year after its introduction in Australia, Ansell today announced it is kicking off a European launch program of their new GAMMEX® Powder-Free glove with AMT Antimicrobial Technology.

The GAMMEX® Powder-Free glove with AMT Antimicrobial Technology is the first surgical glove which incorporates a proprietary antimicrobial coating to provide an additional level of protection to surgical staff against viruses and bacteria, in the event of a breach during surgery.  

Ever since its introduction last year in Australia, this unique Ansell innovation received overall industry acclaim and is being considered a significant technical breakthrough in terms of bringing about a change from passive protection to active protection.

The gloves, made of NRL, provide the same feel, sensitivity, flexibility and dexterity as conventional gloves when manipulating and handling instruments. The main difference is the active antimicrobial layer which contains chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG). This technology can provide ongoing antiviral and antibacterial protection against HIV, hepatitis C and infectious bacteria.

"Improving healthcare systems around the world and an increasing awareness by healthcare workers that gloves offer an effective protection against contamination from bacteria and viruses have been a key driver for the rapid expansion of the medical gloves industry," says Magnus Nicolin, CEO of Ansell Limited.  

"This unique and proprietary AMT Antimicrobial Technology reduces surgical staff risks of exposure to blood-borne pathogens through a higher level of protection," he continues.  "Just as the introduction of the first surgeon gloves significantly decreased surgical site infections, Ansell has great expectations that this glove will take patient protection to another level.  We will now be focusing our research efforts on clinically quantifying the potential that this surgical glove innovation has on reducing the number of Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI's) and any costs associated," he concludes.

First launched in Australia and Europe, Ansell's AMT Antimicrobial Technology will progressively be rolled out in all Ansell markets.
* In clinical and laboratory tests, GAMMEX® Powder-Free with AMT killed at least 99% of invading HIV and HCV (hepatitis C) surrogate pathogens, the two main viruses that concern surgeons. In addition, clinical testing has shown that the gloves kill over 99.7% of eight common infectious bacteria (gram-positive, gram-negative and drug-resistant bacteria) and kill over 99.99% of staphylococcus aureus.

GAMMEX® Powder-Free Gloves with AMT Antimicrobial Technology are not proven to protect against blood-borne infections where the skin is broken, cut or punctured. GAMMEX® Powder-Free Gloves with AMT Antimicrobial Technology contain natural rubber latex, which may cause allergic reactions.

Australia Patent No. 703926 and New Zealand Patent No. 556353. AU and worldwide patents pending.

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