Covalon’s VALGuard Gains Prestigious Recognition in the British Journal of Nursing

Covalon Technologies Ltd. (the "Company" or "Covalon") (TSXV: COV; OTCQX: CVALF), an advanced medical technologies company, today proudly announced the publication of an article in the British Journal of Nursing (BJN), 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.¹ The article sheds light on innovative practices to strengthen infection prevention bundles used within vascular access by featuring VALGuard – a novel, transparent line guard that protects central venous access hubs from gross contamination. Recently retired from the highest‐ranked US Children’s Hospital, Darcy is 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.

“We are deeply grateful to the British Journal of Nursing for featuring this important work. The publication not only brings to light the ongoing challenges in maintaining safe and stable venous access, but also underscores the importance of innovative technologies like Covalon’s in helping to tackle these issues”, said Ron Hebert, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Covalon. “It’s an honor to see Covalon’s VALGuard being recognized by such a respected journal. Our vision is clear: to help healthcare providers strengthen their infection prevention bundles by getting innovative technology like VALGuard into the hands of the frontline.”

The article, originally featured in the Journal of Association for Vascular Access (JAVA) and referred for publication in BJN, updates healthcare 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 help address this critical issue. The article qualifies healthcare professionals for CE (continuing education) credits.

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.
• A novel, transparent line guard (VALGuard) protects CVAD hubs from gross contamination.

CLABSIs are healthcare‐acquired infections associated with prolonged use of central venous access devices. CLABSIs are a major concern for patients, particularly neonatal and pediatric patients, and for healthcare 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 2020.²