Medical Polymers

Bone cements based on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) are essential components employed in the anchoring of prostheses in endoprosthetics. Since 1979, there have been more than 250,000 documented cases of hip endoprostheses implanted with bone cement. Following aseptic destabilisation of the prostheses, an infection is the second most common indication for a revision.

More than 85% of all implant-associated infections are contracted during or immediately after the operation. Antibiotics are prescribed in an attempt to prevent infections. However, the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria means that the antibiotics are becoming less and less effective. Bone cement with MicroSilver BG™ has been successfully investigated in microbiological laboratory tests, animal tests and patient trials.

Source:

• Risikominimierung durch den Einsatz von Knochenzement mit Antibiotikazusatz. Wehrmedizin und Wehrpharmazie 2012/3
• Das bringt uns noch um. ZEIT Nr 48/2014, 4. Dezember 2014
• Nanoparticulate silver. A new antimicrobial substance for bone cement.
  V. Alt et al., Orthopäde 2004 Aug;33(8):885-92
• An in vitro assessment of the antibacterial properties and cytotoxicity of nanoparticulate silver bone cement.
  V. Alt et al., Biomaterials 2004 Aug;25(18):4383-91
• In Vitro Testing of Antimicrobial Activity of Bone Cement.
  V. Alt et al., Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, Nov. 2004, p. 4084–4088.
• Nanoparticulate silver bone cement shows significant reduction of infection rates in a rabbit infection model with multiresistant S. aureus.
  V. Alt et al.,Presentation: Osteosynthese International, Graz, 09/2004
• MicroSilver bone cement and periprosthetic infections: Results of a randomized prospective human clinical investigation.
  E. Lenz, Presentation: Copenhagen EBJIS Symposium Sep. 15th 2011

Standard hospital and OR equipment such as furniture, medical instruments, devices, operating tables and operating lamps are subject to very high hygienic safety requirements. Nevertheless, these surfaces are potential breeding grounds for key problematic bacteria. Depending on the areas of the hospital, disinfectants are employed with varying frequencies to maintain clean and hygienic surfaces. However, most disinfectants don’t have a long-lasting effect, meaning that pathogens are able to re-colonise the surfaces after already a few minutes.

This is exactly where MicroSilver BG™ can come into play. Incorporated into plastics, paints/varnishes, imitation leather, textiles and coatings, MicroSilver BG™ offers an additional hygiene boost between the cleaning and disinfection cycles, providing a long-term antimicrobial effect on the surface, thereby maintaining the bacterial burden low over the entire course of a day.

Source:
A. Schwarzkopf et al., Antiseptisch beschichtete Stühle im Krankenhaus – Eine Feldstudie, Krankenhaus-Hygiene + Infektionsverhütung, Volume 38, Issue 2, April 2016, Pages 74-76

Link: www.dx.doi.org

Central venous catheters are responsible for more than 90% of all infections caused via vascular accesses. The rate of associated infections with central venous catheters in Germany is 2.2%. The rate of associated infections with urinary catheters in Germany is 3.8%.

Ventilation tubes can also be viewed indirectly as catheters (tubes). The rate of infections in Germany for these systems is 16.2%. Many patients in intensive care wards require all three. The risk of infection in such scenarios is particularly high. MicroSilver BG™ in the catheter’s plastic or silicone could ensure a reduction in germs on the surface and thus improved hygiene.

Source:

• Prävention Gefäßkatheterassoziierter Infektionen.
  Bundesgesundheitsbl – Gesundheitsforsch – Gesundheitsschutz 2002 · 45:907–924
• System zur Erfassung krankenhauserworbener Infektionen (SEKI), Hygiene-Institut der Universität Bonn, Stand 2006
• The Erlanger silver catheter: in vitro results for antimicrobial activity.
  T. Bechert et al., Infection 27 (Suppl 1) (1998) p 24–29
• Reduced rates of catheter-associated infection by use of a new silver-impregnated central venous catheter.
  M. Böswald et al., Infection (1999) 27(Suppl 1): p 56-60