Antibacterial Modification of Intravascular Catheter Surface for the Prevention of Catheter-Associated Infection

Objective: Intravascular catheter-associated infection has been increasing hospitalization in post-surgery patients mainly due to microbial colonization of the catheter surface and formation of a superficial biofilm layer. The present study is aimed in developing an effective antibacterial device which can prevent colonization of organisms by modification of catheter. Methods: In the present study, the antibacterial activities of intravascular catheters are impregnated with third generation broad spectrum antibiotic cefixime under in vitro conditions. To enhance sustained drug release from the catheter surface, a carrier polyvinyl alcohol was added as a second layer. Biofilm forming abilities for the test cultures were initially determined using a standard Exit-site challenge test viz., Borosilicate tube assay and Microtitre plate assay .These test were performed to evaluate the biofilm production using biofilm index. Results: Qualitative and quantitative antibacterial activity tests were performed in modified catheters. It was observed that modified catheters could potentiality prevent the growth of test organisms. During the in vitro conditions it was observed that the growth and survival all the four high biofilm producers viz., Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the moderate biofilm producer, Proteus mirabilis were prevented when exposed to drug-carrier coated catheters. These in vitro results suggest that the antibacterial drug-carrier coated catheters can potentially be used to combat catheter colonization and catheter-associated infections.