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Self-disinfecting plastics for intravenous catheters and prosthetic inserts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2009

D. Kingston ,
D. V. Seal  and
I. D. Hill
D. Kingston
Affiliation:
Division of Communicable Diseases
D. V. Seal
Affiliation:
Division of Communicable Diseases
I. D. Hill
Affiliation:
Division of Medical Statistics, Clinical Research Centre, Watford Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3UJ
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Summary

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A disinfectant (2,4,4′-trichloro-2′-hydroxydiphenyl ether: Irgasan, Ciba-Geigy) was incorporated into plastic washers fabricated from ethylvinyl acetate (EVA), polyethylene, polypropylene or TPX. Plastics containing 0·2 and 2% Irgasan gave zones of inhibition on nutrient and blood agar plates seeded with micro-organisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Staph, epidermidis Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis or Candida albicans) even after thorough washing. Exceptionally, C. albicans was inhibited only by 2% Irgasan, and EVA gave good inhibition only against the staphylococci. Similar washers of each plastic were implanted subcutaneously into the flanks of rabbits; before insertion each was washed, had thread woven into it and was surrounded by a plasma clot containing 2 × 108Staph. aureus. All the plastics without Irgasan gave rise to abscesses, none of the plastics impregnated with 2% Irgasan did, though from 2 out of 12 sites small numbers of Staph. aureus were isolated at post mortem. Using either clinical or bacteriological criteria, the results were highly significant (P < 0.00001 and P <0.001 respectively), demonstrating the effectiveness of this technique in preventing plastic-associated infection.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 96 , Issue 2 , April 1986 , pp. 185 - 198
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

References

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