Microban trying silicone in antimicrobial study

ERJ staff report (PRW)

London - The rise in hospital-acquired infections - including “superbugs” - has prompted materials developers to step up developments in anti-microbial technologies that help to kill germs on contact, reports Lou Reade of PRW.

Microban International has carried out in vitro testing to simulate planktonic and biofilm growth on high-consistency silicone rubber that often is used to make urinary catheters. Urinary infections are an expensive source of hospital-acquired infections: existing technologies have had limited success in reducing infection rates.

But Microban's silver antimicrobial technology, developed for high-consistency silicone rubber, is engineered to meet stricter Food and Drug Administration guidelines that encourage manufacturers to adopt tougher measures in order to reduce patient infection.

Initial results with the antimicrobial technology exceed FDA guidelines, Microban said, showing greater than 5 log reductions in Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli versus unprotected high-consistency silicone rubber. It was also effective on biofilm formation.

"The ability of antimicrobial technologies to reduce biofilm formation is critical to reducing infection rates," said Gina Sloan, director of microbiology at Microban.

Biofilms are communities of bacteria that can resist antibiotic treatment and are more likely to cause recurrent infections. The study shows that the technology prevents the formation of biofilm on HCR silicone.