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Anti‐Infective catheters: A difficult search for effective slow delivery systems
Author(s) -
Schierholz J. M.,
Beuth J.,
Rump A. F. E.,
König D. P.,
Pulverer G.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
materialwissenschaft und werkstofftechnik
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.285
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1521-4052
pISSN - 0933-5137
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1521-4052(199912)30:12<869::aid-mawe869>3.0.co;2-g
Subject(s) - antimicrobial , antibiotics , medicine , catheter , nanotechnology , chemistry , surgery , microbiology and biotechnology , materials science , biology
Nosocomial infection are estimated to involve more than 2 million patients annually and in 1992 cost more than $4,5 billion in the USA (1). The surfaces of indwelling medical devices are an excellent platform for the formation of life‐threatening infections. Although aseptic techniques can reduce the incidence of these infections, a significant risk remains. The coupling or incorporation of antimicrobial substances to or into catheter materials may be a suitable way to prevent the development of catheter associated infections as suggested by in vitro and in vivo studies. Various surface treatments are emerging as important. Early efforts that concentrated on adsorption of antibiotics to device surfaces achieved limited results as shown in several clinical studies. The promising approach features the incorporation of antimicrobial drugs into the polymer matrices that entrap but do not bind the drugs, allowing for extended release. Incorporation of antimicrobials in the bulk material that constitutes a device can be effective as shown in several in vitro and in vivo studies. In future, modification of both short‐term and long term catheters by biofilm‐active antimicrobials creating slow delivery systems may provide an effective method to protect patients from nosocomial infection.