Silver-coated endotracheal tubes associated with reduced bacterial burden in the lungs of mechanically ventilated dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the influence of silver-coated endotracheal tubes on the lung bacterial burden of mechanically ventilated dogs.


METHODS
Randomized, double-blinded, controlled experiment.


METHODS
Animal research facility of a regional medical university.


METHODS
Eleven healthy adult dogs.


METHODS
The dogs were intubated either with cuffed, noncoated endotracheal tubes or with endotracheal tubes having a novel antimicrobial silver hydrogel coating and were challenged with buccal administration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.


RESULTS
The silver coating delayed the appearance of bacteria on the inner surface of the endotracheal tubes ([mean +/- SD] duration of mechanical ventilation before appearance of bacteria, 3.2 +/- 0.8 days; mean duration of mechanical ventilation, 1.8 +/- 0.4 days; p = 0.016). The mean total aerobic bacterial burden in the lung parenchyma was statistically lower among the dogs receiving the silver-coated endotracheal tubes compared to those not receiving them (4.8 +/- 0.8 vs 5.4 +/- 9 log cfu/g lung tissue, respectively; p = 0.010). Pronounced differences were seen in the gross and histologic assessments of inflammation in the lung. Using an increasing severity scale of 0 to 12 to assess four components of histology (ie, hyperemia, edema, cellular infiltration, and bacterial presence), dogs receiving noncoated endotracheal tubes had statistically greater histology scores compared to dogs receiving silver-coated endotracheal tubes (7.1 plus minus 1.6 vs 2.8 plus minus 1.2, respectively; p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the silver coating of endotracheal tubes may delay the onset of and decrease the severity of lung colonization by aerobic bacteria. Based on these results, clinical studies are planned to determine the safety and clinical efficacy of silver-coated endotracheal tubes in patients requiring mechanical ventilation in the ICU setting.
Olson
Merle E
ME
Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Animal Resources Center, The University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Harmon
Barry G
BG
Kollef
Marin H
MH
D000818:Animals; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004285:Dogs; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011897:Random Allocation; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D012837:Silver Sulfadiazine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D012837:Silver Sulfadiazine