New protocol including the use of ALLEVYN™ LIFE reduces hospital-acquired pressure ulcers by 69% in large facility

Smith & Nephew (LSE:SN)(NYSE:SNN), the global medical technology business, announces the publication of a new research paper showing how a comprehensive ulcer prevention programme which included the use of ALLEVYN™ LIFE can significantly decrease hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs).¹

The study was conducted in an adult intensive care unit (ICU) at Eskenazi Health, Indianapolis, Indiana, US, between 2012 and 2013, and published in the American Journal of Critical-Care Nurses.

The research emphasises that hospitals who adopt a standardised protocol for the prevention and treatment of HAPUs may see potential cost benefit of such prevention. At the end of the first year, the prevention programme demonstrated a 69% decrease in HAPUs.¹ The estimated potential cost saving for the Eskenazi Health ICU was nearly $1 million, and the convincing results in the ICU have led to the approval of a hospital-wide rollout of the HAPU prevention programme. ¹

ALLEVYN™ LIFE, a silicone foam dressing also indicated for the treatment and prevention of pressure ulcers, developed by Smith & Nephew, was introduced to the protocol as part of the standard prevention method three months into the programme.

Rachel Culpepper, Registered Nurse at Eskenazi Health stated, "This study validates the need for a comprehensive, proactive, collaborative prevention programme in hospitals. Although it is difficult to isolate the effects of individual programme components, silicone foam dressings can complement an existing pressure ulcer prevention programme, and are believed to contribute to the reduction in HAPUs.”

"Smith & Nephew has a strong heritage of innovation in advanced wound management. By sharing the meaningful data results, we hope to increase awareness and emphasise the importance of prevention programmes for hospital-acquired pressure ulcers,” said Bert Slade, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Advanced Wound Management, Smith & Nephew. "Our mission is to support healthcare professionals to improve lives of patients. We welcome these findings and strongly believe they will help healthcare providers, clinicians and administrators to better manage the clinical and economic burden of HAPUs in similar settings worldwide.”

Additional components to the HAPU prevention programme include educating Eskenazi Health staff members and a focus on adherence to protocols for patient care. Both have proven to be part of an effective programme for reducing the incidence of HAPUs in the ICU, according to the study results.¹

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About Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business dedicated to helping healthcare professionals improve people's lives. With leadership positions in Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Advanced Wound Management, Sports Medicine and Trauma & Extremities, Smith & Nephew has around 15,000 employees and a presence in more than 100 countries. Annual sales in 2015 were more than $4.6 billion. Smith & Nephew is a member of the FTSE100 (LSE:SN, NYSE:SNN).

For more information about Smith & Nephew, please visit our website www.smith-nephew.com, follow @SmithNephewplc on Twitter or visit SmithNephewplc on Facebook.com.

Smith & Nephew will be presenting more of the latest research on pressure ulcer prevention at WUWHS 2016. To learn more go to http://www.smith-nephew.com/wuwhs2016/.

About Hospital-Acquired Pressure Ulcers (HAPUs)

In acute care settings, the estimated incidence and standard of care for HAPUs varies widely around the world.^{2, 3} HAPUs are largely preventable, although they are costly to treat, and these costs are typically not reimbursed by insurance payers.⁴ The estimated average cost is USD 38,700 per incidence.¹ Standard recommendations for prevention have helped to drive down the incidence of HAPUs, but there remains room for further improvements.²

About the Eskenazi Health Study¹

Eskenazi Health, one of the largest essential health systems in the US, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, initiated a study in an adult ICU with the goal of reducing the incidence of HAPUs by 50%. The prevention programme involves:

• A risk-stratified approach to care, based on Braden sources: high risk (= 12); moderate (12–14); at risk (15–18)
• Use of a revised skincare protocol, fluidised repositioners, staff education and awareness improvement
• Use of ALLEVYN™ LIFE adhesive dressings over bony prominences, including elbows, heels, knees, sacrum and shoulders

Forward-looking Statements

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References

¹ Swafford K, Culpepper R, Dunn C. Use of a Comprehensive Program to Reduce the Incidence of Hospital-Acquired Pressure Ulcers in an Intensive Care Unit. Am J Crit Care. 2016 Mar;25(2):152-5

² Mallah Z, Nassar N, Kurdahi Badr L. The effectiveness of a pressure ulcer intervention program on the prevalence of hospital acquired pressure ulcers: controlled before and after study. Appl Nurs Res. 2015;28(2):106-113.

³ Santamaria N, Liu W, Gerdtz M, et al. The cost-benefit of using soft silicone multilayered foam dressings to prevent sacral and heel pressure ulcers in trauma and critically ill patients: a within-trial analysis of the Border Trial. Int Wound J. 2015;12(3):344-350.

⁴ Department of Health and Human Services. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. SMDL #08-004. July 31, 2008. State Medicaid Director letter https://downloads.cms.gov/cmsgov/archived-downloads/SMDL/downloads/smd073108.pdf Accessed May 24, 2016.

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