Joining the groundswell of support for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) 100,000 Lives Campaign, 3M applauds this milestone "best practices" initiative to prevent thousands of avoidable deaths from infection.

"The IHI 100,000 Lives Campaign has drawn national attention to the critical need for infection control in hospitals, and it has prompted tremendous action that has helped save lives," said Jim Ingebrand, Asepsis Business Director, 3M Health Care. "For decades, 3M has been committed to infection control, providing doctors and hospitals with the science and tools they need to minimize infection and ensure patient safety."

To support the efforts of Campaign hospitals to improve infection control, 3M is providing information on its infection prevention products such as the 3M surgical clipper, 3M Avagard D instant hand antiseptic, 3M Tegaderm dressings, 3M DuraPrep surgical solution and 3M Ioban 2 antimicrobial incise drapes. Several of 3M's products are considered in best practices in infection prevention. Notably, the surgical clipper is recommended by AORN, APIC, CDC and ACS as a preferred method of hair removal to help reduce the risk of surgical site infection.

In addition, 3M provides educational resources to help clinicians use best practices to prevent infections, including the 3M Infection Prevention Discovery Center and CE credit programs on topics including the use of appropriate skin antiseptics.

"With the continued drive of IHI, the focus on practice improvement at the hospital system level, and the support of numerous advocates, companies and organizations, infection prevention should remain a top priority that will, hopefully, lead to an overall increase in patient safety worldwide," said Ingebrand.

About 3M Health Care

Since inventing Ioban incise antimicrobial surgical drapes more than 30 years ago, 3M has been a worldwide leader in developing health care products and services that address infection prevention. 3M Health Care is dedicated to improving the practice, delivery and outcome of patient care and is a leading provider of solutions for medical, dental, pharmaceutical and health information systems markets.

About 3M - A Global, Diversified Technology Company

Every day, 3M people find new ways to make amazing things happen. Wherever they are, whatever they do, the company's customers know they can rely on 3M to help make their lives better. 3M's brands include Scotch, Post-it, Scotchgard, Thinsulate, Scotch-Brite, Filtrete, Command and Vikuiti. Serving customers in more than 200 countries around the world, the people of 3M use their expertise, technologies and global strength to lead in major markets including consumer and office; display and graphics; electronics and telecommunications; safety, security and protection services; health care; industrial and transportation. For more information, including the latest product and technology news, visit www.3M.com.

Avagard, Ioban, Tegaderm, DuraPrep, Scotch, Post-it, Scotchgard, Thinsulate, Scotch-Brite, Filtrete, Command and Vikuiti are trademarks of 3M.

3M, St. PaulStephanie Sanderson, 651-733-8588http://www.3m.com/PressContactorWeissComm PartnersBarri Winiarski, 212-301-7209bwiniarski@weisscommpartners.com