SAN ANTONIO & TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Terumo Corporation, one of the world’s leading medical device manufacturers and distributors, and Xenex Disinfection Services, the market leader in ultraviolet (UV) room disinfection technology, today announced that Terumo is the exclusive distributor of Xenex LightStrike™ Germ-Zapping Robots™ in Japan.
Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) caused by pathogens such as Clostridium difficile (C.diff), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are a global problem, and the Xenex pulsed xenon ultraviolet (UV) room disinfection technology is a proven solution that destroys these deadly microorganisms before they can pose a threat to patients and healthcare workers. The Xenex Germ-Zapping Robot has been proven effective against the Ebola virus and Anthrax, and can easily be incorporated into a facility’s disease containment and biodefense strategy.
“We have carefully analyzed the room disinfection industry and evaluated the various technologies that are being used to combat HAIs. In Xenex, we found an environmentally-friendly and evidence-based UV technology that has been shown to reduce hospital infection rates in multiple peer-reviewed published outcome studies, and this is why we have partnered with Xenex,” said Tsuyoshi Tomita, Division President, General Hospital Products Division, General Hospital Company at Terumo Corporation. “We are dedicated to combatting infections, as evidenced by being the first company to launch disposable syringes in Japan. Helping hospitals bring down their infection rates is our goal, and we are confident that the Xenex LightStrike system will enable hospitals in Japan to reach this goal.”
Studies show that less than half of the surfaces in a room are disinfected properly in between patients. Xenex robots help hospitals reduce the risk of infection by destroying the microscopic germs that may be missed during the manual cleaning process. Xenex’s germ fighting robots take room decontamination to the next level by using pulsed xenon, an environmentally-friendly noble gas, to create full spectrum, high intensity UV light that quickly destroys infectious germs. The robot destroys C.diff spores, MRSA and other microorganisms in less than five minutes. Hospitals using Xenex devices have published outcome studies in peer-reviewed journals showing 50-100 percent decreases in C.diff, MRSA and Surgical Site Infection rates when those hospitals used the Xenex robots to disinfect rooms.
“Like Xenex, Terumo was founded by scientists and has been a leader in helping hospitals reduce their infection rates for many years. They share our passion for patient safety, and we are very proud to partner with them to provide our LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robot technology to hospitals in Japan,” said Joseph Authement, Senior Vice President of Global Sales at Xenex. “The robot is very efficient and its speed enables it to disinfect areas and rooms quickly so they can be used throughout the entire facility, including multi-bed wards, to help reduce the risk of infection throughout the hospital.”
The Xenex LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robot is designed for speed, effectiveness and ease of use, which allows hospital cleaning staff to operate the robot without disrupting hospital operations. With a four- or five-minute disinfection cycle (depending on robot model), the robot can disinfect 30-62 hospital rooms per day (according to Xenex customers), including patient rooms, operating rooms, equipment rooms, emergency rooms, intensive care units and public areas. More than 400 hospitals, Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, skilled nursing, ambulatory surgery centers and long-term acute care facilities in the U.S., Africa, Canada and Europe use Xenex robots for room disinfection.
About Terumo Corporation
Tokyo-based Terumo Corporation is one of the world's leading medical device manufacturers with over $5 billion in sales and operations in more than 160 nations. Founded in 1921, the company develops, manufactures and distributes world-class medical devices including products for use in cardiothoracic surgery, interventional procedures and transfusion medicine; the company also manufactures a broad array of syringe and hypodermic needle products for hospital and physician office use. Terumo contributes to society by providing valued products and services to the health care market and by responding to the needs of health care providers and the people they serve. Terumo Corporation's shares are listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (No. 4543, Reuters symbol <4543.T>, or Bloomberg 4543: JP) and is a component of the Nikkei 225, Japan's leading stock index.
Xenex Disinfection Services
Xenex's patented Full SpectrumTM pulsed xenon UV room disinfection system is used for the advanced disinfection of healthcare facilities. Due to its speed and ease of use, the Xenex system has proven to integrate smoothly into hospital cleaning operations. Xenex's mission is to save lives and reduce suffering by eliminating the deadly microorganisms that cause hospital acquired infections (HAIs). The company is backed by well-known investors that include Malin Corporation, Battery Ventures, Targeted Technology Fund II, Tectonic Ventures and RK Ventures. For more information, visit Xenex.com.
