health-systems PRODUCT news

Cold-Safe Locking Refrigerator Storage Box

EPS Inc (Ivyland,Pa) recentlyexpanded its lineof storage andtransport items. The Cold-Safe LockingRefrigerator Storage Box has beendesigned to provide security and conveniencefor medications and productsrequiring refrigeration and protection. Theproduct allows substances to be keptunder key security in an unlocked refrigerator.They are easy to install yet cannotbe removed if the boxes are locked.Special slotted mounting holes andbrackets are easily adjustable so you canconveniently position the product withinvirtually any refrigerator. Furthermore, theCold-Safe Locking Refrigerator StorageBox can be placed under cabinets, counters,utility carts, and more. For moreinformation, visit www.medidose.com, orcall 800-523-8966.

Dacogen (decitabine) Injection

MGI PHARMA Inc(Minneapolis, Minn) recentlyreceived orphandesignation from the FDAfor Dacogen for Injection for the indicationof acute myeloid leukemia. The productwas approved by the FDA on May 2, 2006,for the treatment of patients withmyelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), includingpreviously treated and untreated denovo and secondary MDS of all French-American-British subtypes (refractoryanemia, refractory anemia with ringedsideroblasts, refractory anemia withexcess blasts, refractory anemia withexcess blasts in transformation, andchronic myelomonocytic leukemia), andIntermediate-1, Intermediate-2, and High-Risk International Prognostic ScoringSystem groups. The recommendedDacogen dose is 15 mg/m² administeredby continuous intravenous infusion over 3hours, repeated every 8 hours for 3 days.Patients may be premedicated with standardantiemetic therapy. This cycle shouldbe repeated every 6 weeks. It is recommendedthat patients be treated for aminimum of 4 cycles; however, a completeor partial response may take longerthan 4 cycles. Treatment may be continuedas long as the patient continues tobenefit. Dacogen is supplied as a sterilelyophilized white to almost-white powder,in a single-dose vial, packaged in cartonsof 1 vial. Each vial contains 50 mg ofdecitabine. For more information, visitwww.dacogen.com.

Fluconazole MIC Susceptibility Test Card

bioMérieux (Durham, NC) recentlyreceived FDA approval for laboratories toperform fluconazole susceptibility testson the VITEK 2 automated microbiologysystem. The tests will be used to determinesusceptibility of Candida species tothis antifungal agent. The FluconazoleMinimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC)Susceptibility test card for the VITEK 2platform will provide an accurate, rapid,and automated method for susceptibilitytesting of systemic yeast infections. Thecurrent available manual methods fortesting the susceptibility of yeasts toantifungal agents can be subjective, difficultto perform, labor-intensive, andexpensive. Often the results take severaldays or weeks to reach physicians.Therefore, many clinicians forgo this testingand treat patients empirically withexpensive, broad-spectrum, and/or toxicantifungal agents that may be unnecessary.The VITEK 2 platform allows laboratoriesto provide physicians with fluconazolesusceptibility test informationagainst Candida species within 36 hours.The Fluconazole MIC Susceptibility testcard is used in conjunction with theVITEK 2 Yeast Identification card to assistclinicians in the selection of optimal antifungaltherapy. For more information,visit www.biomerieux-usa.com.

VISIV

Hospira Inc (Lake Forest,Ill) recently launched theVISIV flexible intravenous(IV) container. The container'sadvanced technologyand patient-and clinician-focuseddesign were developedto assist hospitals intheir efforts to improvepatient safety, advance caregiver safetyand efficiency, and increase environmentalresponsibility. With a standardflexible IV container, an external over-wrapis used as a moisture barrier.Through its multilayer plastic film, theVISIV container is the first plastic large-volumeflexible IV container to requireno overwrap. The VISIV container alsooffers virtually impenetrable port tubeswith a greater needle-stick protectivearea for medication additives. Together,these features help protect caregiversfrom accidental needle-stick injuries.For hospitals seeking alternatives tocontainers made of glass or containingdi(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) orpolyvinyl chloride (PVC), the VISIV containeris made from DEHP-and PVCfreematerials that provide the thermalability, moisture-barrier properties, andinertness required for IV medications.Visit www.hospira.com, or call 877-9HOSPIRA (877-946-7747) for moreinformation.