title: Antimicrobial Activity of a Novel Vascular Access Film Dressing Containing Chlorhexidine Gluconate.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Covering insertion sites with chlorhexidine impregnated dressings has been proven to be clinically effective in reducing catheter related blood stream infections (CR-BSI). Two chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG)-impregnated dressings are commercially available, a polyurethane foam disk and a film dressing containing a chlorhexidine gluconate-impregnated gel pad. While both have demonstrated efficacy in clinical settings, the major drawback of high cost and impaired IV insertion site visibility limits their usage. A new, simple film dressing containing CHG within its adhesive layer is now available. The objective of this study was to test the in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of the new dressing in comparison to the CHG-impregnated gel dressing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative aliquots of suspensions (concentration of 1.0x106 to 5.0x106 cfu/sample) of clinically relevant challenge organisms (Staphylococcus species, gram-negative bacilli, Candida albicans) were incubated in contact with the new CHG-containing film dressing, a placebo version of the same (negative control) and the commercially available CHG-impregnated gel dressing (positive control). Serial dilutions of the surviving organisms were quantified using the pour plate after 1, 3, 5, and 7 days of incubation in order to calculate an antimicrobial log10 reduction for each organism/dressing combination at each point in time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The new CHG-containing film dressing delivered greater than 5.0 log10 reduction throughout the 7 days on all aerobic gram-negative bacilli and Staphylococcus species tested. As of day 1 the CHG-containing film dressing provided greater than 5.0 log10 reduction on Candida albicans. There were no statistically significant differences in the log10 reduction between the two dressings tested.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new CHG-containing film dressing was found to be as effective as the chlorhexidine gluconate-impregnated gel dressing on clinically relevant microbes.
authors.affiliation: Vancive Medical Technologies, an Avery Dennison business, 20 N. Wacker Drive Suite 2240, Chicago, Illinois, 60606, United States of America.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wibaux
authors.affiliation: Vancive Medical Technologies, an Avery Dennison business, 20 N. Wacker Drive Suite 2240, Chicago, Illinois, 60606, United States of America.
authors.forename: Priyaleela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thota
authors.affiliation: Gibraltar Laboratories Inc., Fairfield, New Jersey, 07004, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jozef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mastej
authors.affiliation: Gibraltar Laboratories Inc., Fairfield, New Jersey, 07004, United States of America.
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Prince
authors.affiliation: Vancive Medical Technologies, an Avery Dennison business, 20 N. Wacker Drive Suite 2240, Chicago, Illinois, 60606, United States of America.
authors.forename: Neal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carty
authors.affiliation: Vancive Medical Technologies, an Avery Dennison business, 20 N. Wacker Drive Suite 2240, Chicago, Illinois, 60606, United States of America.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000269:Adhesives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001458:Bandages; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity; D058106:Wound Closure Techniques
chemical_list: D000269:Adhesives; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D011140:Polyurethanes; C028279:polyurethane foam; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine