title: Antibacterial activity of antibiotic-soaked polyvinylpyrrolidone-grafted silicon elastomer hydrocephalus shunts.
abstract: If shunts, inserted for the relief of hydrocephalus, are pretreated with antimicrobials, the incidence of shunt-associated infections (SAI) may be reduced. The duration of the antibacterial activity of shunts, made from conventional silicon elastomer (SE) or from SE grafted with the hydrogel polyvinylpyrrolidone (SEpvp), which had been soaked in various antibiotics, was assessed in vitro. For any antibiotic or combination, using an arbitrary breakpoint (aBP), SEpvp remained antibacterially active for longer periods than SE. Bacterial adherence to either shunt was prevented during the period of antibacterial activity. Thus, the aBP is a good indicator of the capacity of antimicrobial-treated shunts to prevent bacterial colonization in vitro. Hydrogel-grafting of shunts may be useful in preventing SAI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Department of Neurosurgery, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. BoelensJJ@yahoo.com
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Boelens
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dankert
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Zaat
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000628:therapy*; D011205:Povidone; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D011205:Povidone