title: In vitro antimicrobial efficacy of silver iontophoretic catheter.
abstract: A silver iontophoretic catheter was designed consisting of two silver wires connected to an electric power source and disposed in a parallel and helical manner around the proximal subcutaneous segment of a silicone catheter. In an in vitro tunnelled bridge model the silver iontophoretic catheter prevented the migration of Staphylococcus epidermidis from the highly contaminated hub to the sterile tip over a 40-d period. The silver impregnated cuff and electrically charged wires made of aluminium or iron delayed migration for only 72 h. A modified Kirby-Bauer technique, used to test the inhibitory activity of antimicrobial catheters, showed that the silver iontophoretic catheter has a broad spectrum inhibitory activity against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and Candida albicans. The silver iontophoretic catheter provides a long-term electrochemical barrier against the migration of organisms from the external contaminated environment into the sterile intravascular compartment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Specialties, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Raad
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hachem
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zermeno
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dumo
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Bodey
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006095:Gram-Positive Cocci; D007478:Iontophoresis / Q000379:methods*; D012834:Silver; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis
chemical_list: D012834:Silver