WALTHAM, Mass., July 22 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Millennium Research Group (MRG), the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, the recent Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) cuts to reimbursement for hospital-acquired infections are resulting in adoption of antimicrobial-coated access devices, including dialysis catheters and central venous catheters (CVCs). MRG's US Markets for Vascular Access Devices 2009 report finds that usage of the antimicrobial-coated catheters will increase over the next five years as physicians take precautions against infections when using non-tunneled devices, which are placed directly into the vessel rather than buried under the skin.

A small portion of access catheters implanted in 2008 were equipped with antimicrobial coatings. However, this number of antimicrobial-coated CVC and dialysis catheter implantation procedures will rise at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 7% over the next five years as physicians recognize the ability of these coatings to combat the high risk of infection associated with non-tunneled catheters. The greater length and cuffed design of tunneled catheters provides a significant barrier to outside infection, whereas non-tunneled catheters are more susceptible to infection due to their design.

"The trend toward antimicrobial-coated catheters has been bolstered by CMS' April 2009 decision," says Stephanie LaBelle, Senior Analyst at MRG. "Although antimicrobial coatings were initially reserved for longer-indwelling CVCs and dialysis catheters, which are associated with higher risks of infection, 2009 saw the introduction of the first antimicrobial-coated peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) from Cook Medical. The launch of the first antimicrobial PICC is the latest development in a more widespread trend that is exemplified by the rising popularity of antimicrobial-coated CVCs and dialysis catheters."

MRG's new report, US Markets for Vascular Access Devices 2009 provides detailed five-year market forecasts for the adoption of antimicrobial-coated CVCs and dialysis catheters, as well as insight into the release of the first antimicrobial-coated PICC. Additionally, the report provides full coverage of the short peripheral intravenous catheter, implantable port, and Huber needle markets.

About Millennium Research Group

Millennium Research Group (www.MRG.net), a Decision Resources, Inc. company (www.DecisionResourcesInc.com), is the global authority on medical technology market intelligence and the leading provider of strategic information to the health care sector. The company provides specialized industry expertise through multiclient market research, ongoing Marketrack(TM) projects, customer loyalty tracking, facility-level procedure forecasting, and customized solutions.

About Decision Resources, Inc.

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    For more information, contact:

    Amy Krohn
    Millennium Research Group
    416-364-7776 x101
    akrohn@mrg.net

    Elizabeth Marshall
    Decision Resources Inc.
    781-296-2563
    emarshall@dresources.com

SOURCE Millennium Research Group