Premier Medical Journal Spotlights Covalon’s VALGUARD

A Novel Solution to Long-Standing Problem of Protecting Vascular Access Sites

Covalon Technologies Ltd. (the "Company" or "Covalon") (TSXV: COV; OTCQX: CVALF), an advanced medical technologies company, today announced the publication of an article in the Journal of the Association for Vascular Access (JAVA), titled “Guarding the Central Venous Access Device: A New Solution for an Old Problem”, authored by Darcy Doellman, MSN, RN, VA-BC, a leading expert in pediatric vascular access. Recently retired from the top-ranked US Children’s Hospital, Darcy has established herself as a thought leader in the field of pediatric vascular access, authoring clinical guidelines, facilitating courses on pediatric intravenous skills and catheter insertions across the US, and regularly publishing research in prominent peer reviewed journals.

“Innovation is at the heart of better patient care, but the true power of new technology lies in how effectively we can communicate and learn about these breakthroughs,” said Ron Hebert, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Covalon. “At Covalon we’re incredibly grateful to JAVA and Darcy for bringing greater awareness to how Covalon’s VALGuard product can protect and empower more patients receiving vascular access care. We’re on the frontline of change in infection prevention and we’re committed to pushing forward this vital conversation.”

The JAVA article, which was selected by the Journal for CE (continuing education) marking, aims to update health care professionals on various sources of CVAD (Central Venous Access Device) contamination as a major contributor to CLABSIs (Central line-associated blood stream infections), while highlighting practices and innovations designed to address the issue. The majority of CLABSIs are preventable, and strengthening infection protection bundles with improved practices and new technology is a proven approach.

In the article, Doellman states, “The actions of our peers and research on causes of CLABSI favor barrier protection where CVADs are vulnerable to pathogen entry, for which there is now a dedicated, safe, and cost-effective solution available.”

Article highlights include:

• CLABSIs are a major concern in both the adult and pediatric patient population.
• Contamination of catheter hubs is a common cause of CLABSI.
• VALGuard is a novel, transparent line guard that protects CVAD hubs from gross contamination.

CLABSIs are serious healthcare-acquired infections associated with prolonged use of central venous access devices. CLABSIs are a major concern for all patients, particularly neonatal and pediatric patients, and for health care providers. In recent times, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, CLABSI rates have risen significantly, with the United States Center for Disease Control reporting a 65% CLABSI increase in Intensive Care Units in 2020.