title: In Vitro and In Vivo Effectiveness of an Innovative Silver-Copper Nanoparticle Coating of Catheters To Prevent Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infection.
abstract: In this study, silver/copper (Ag/Cu)-coated catheters were investigated for their efficacy in preventing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in vitro and in vivo Ag and Cu were sputtered (67/33% atomic ratio) on polyurethane catheters by direct-current magnetron sputtering. In vitro, Ag/Cu-coated and uncoated catheters were immersed in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or rat plasma and exposed to MRSA ATCC 43300 at 10(4) to 10(8) CFU/ml. In vivo, Ag/Cu-coated and uncoated catheters were placed in the jugular vein of rats. Directly after, MRSA (10(7) CFU/ml) was inoculated in the tail vein. Catheters were removed 48 h later and cultured. In vitro, Ag/Cu-coated catheters preincubated in PBS and exposed to 10(4) to 10(7) CFU/ml prevented the adherence of MRSA (0 to 12% colonization) compared to uncoated catheters (50 to 100% colonization; P < 0.005) and Ag/Cu-coated catheters retained their activity (0 to 20% colonization) when preincubated in rat plasma, whereas colonization of uncoated catheters increased (83 to 100%; P < 0.005). Ag/Cu-coating protection diminished with 10(8) CFU/ml in both PBS and plasma (50 to 100% colonization). In vivo, Ag/Cu-coated catheters reduced the incidence of catheter infection compared to uncoated catheters (57% versus 79%, respectively; P = 0.16) and bacteremia (31% versus 68%, respectively; P < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy of explanted catheters suggests that the suboptimal activity of Ag/Cu catheters in vivo was due to the formation of a dense fibrin sheath over their surface. Ag/Cu-coated catheters thus may be able to prevent MRSA infections. Their activity might be improved by limiting plasma protein adsorption on their surfaces.
authors.affiliation: Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland Group of Advanced Oxidation Processes, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, EPFL-SB-ISIC-GPAO, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Myriam K S
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ballo
authors.affiliation: Group of Advanced Oxidation Processes, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, EPFL-SB-ISIC-GPAO, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sami
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1924-3710
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rtimi
authors.affiliation: Group of Advanced Oxidation Processes, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, EPFL-SB-ISIC-GPAO, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pulgarin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Work and Health, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hopf
authors.affiliation: Institute of Work and Health, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berthet
authors.affiliation: Group of Advanced Oxidation Processes, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, EPFL-SB-ISIC-GPAO, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kiwi
authors.affiliation: Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moreillon
authors.affiliation: Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland jose.entenza@unil.ch.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Entenza
authors.affiliation: Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bizzini
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000382:microbiology*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005337:Fibrin / Q000737:chemistry; D007601:Jugular Veins; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D012834:Silver / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D011140:Polyurethanes; D012834:Silver; D003300:Copper; D005337:Fibrin