In vitro cytotoxicity of silver-impregnated collagen cuffs designed to decrease infection in tunneled catheters.
OBJECTIVE
To examine in vitro the effects of silver-impregnated collagen cuff material from central venous catheters on human fibroblast growth.


METHODS
In culture flasks, hybrid cells were exposed to silver-impregnated collagen cuff material, and human fibroblasts were exposed to silver-impregnated or silver-free collagen cuff material. After 72 hours of growth, cells were stained and digitally imaged, and the relative areas of cytotoxicity were determined.


RESULTS
Flasks containing the silver-impregnated collagen cuff material and hybrid cells or human fibroblasts showed a marked local cytotoxic effect of the cuff material; cell-free zones surrounding the cuff material were demonstrated. No cytotoxic effect was seen in the flasks that contained silver-free cuff material (control group). Mean area of cleared cells was 312 mm2 +/- 130 (range, 156-624 mm2) in the flasks containing human fibroblasts and silver-impregnated cuff material and 0 mm2 in the corresponding control flasks (P < .0001). Mean radius of the area of cleared cells around the silver-impregnated cuff material in the flasks containing human fibroblasts was 9.8 mm +/- 2.0 (range, 7.0-14.1 mm).


CONCLUSIONS
Silver-impregnated collagen cuff material demonstrates a local cytotoxicity on hybrid cells and human fibroblasts in vitro. This finding may explain the phenomena seen clinically of decreased anchorage and inadvertent removal of catheters with silver-impregnated collagen cuffs.
Hemmerlein
J B
JB
Department of Radiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202-5253, USA.
Trerotola
S O
SO
Kraus
M A
MA
Mendonca
M S
MS
Desmond
L A
LA
D000818:Animals; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003094:Collagen; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006822:Hybrid Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D012834:Silver / Q000633:toxicity*
D012834:Silver; D003094:Collagen